Squirrels of the World

Paraxerus vexillarius 245

alone or in pairs that are possibly monogamous. They nest
in open leaf nests or tree hollows lined with leaves or fi bers.
Females give birth to one to two kittens in each litter. Males
and females reside together in the nest while raising their
litter, and both appear to care for the young. This species
has a single alarm call that is accompanied by a complex
visual display. While emitting a single “buzz” sound, the
animal freezes motionless while holding its tail stiffl y be-
hind its body with the tip curved upward. Between repeats
of the sound, it quickly jerks its tail upward to a nearly ver-
tical position, so that the tail resembles a C shape. While
moving its tail, the animal hops or stamps its feet. The
“buzz” and its subsequent movements are then repeated 100
or more times.

general references: Amtmann 1966; Ellerman 1940;
Emmons 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980; Hollister 1919; Moore 1959;
Rosevear 1969; Thomas 1916.

Paraxerus vexillarius (Kershaw, 1923)

Swynnerton’s Bush Squirrel

description: Swynnerton’s bush squirrel is a large brown
animal, distinguished in some individuals by the orange ru-
fous color on the tip of the tail. The dorsal pelage is olive
green to brown, and the ventral pelage is gray. The limbs
and feet are orange rufous. The face is rufous on the nose
and mouth, and in a wide stripe from the ear to the eye. The

long tail is brown with pale rings at the base, buff in the

middle, and orange at the distal tip. P. vexillarius can be dis-

tinguished from other Paraxerus species by having a rufous

coloration only on the limbs and tail, rather than on the

belly (P. palliatus) or the entire body (P. lucifer).

size: Female—HB 226.6 mm (n = 9); T 183.7 mm (n = 7).

Male—HB 228.1 mm (n = 9); T 180.5 mm (n = 8); Mass 243.0

(n = 1).

Sex not stated—HB 238.5 mm (n = 2); T 200.0 mm (n = 2).

distribution: Swynnerton’s bush squirrel is distributed

through Tanzania in an area no greater than 20,000 km^2. It

is primarily limited to the Eastern Arc Mountains, having

been recorded from Mount Kilimanjaro (between 1900 m

and the heath zone), the Usambara range (Amani, Lushoto,

Magamba, and Mazumbai), the Ulugurus (Bagiro), and the

Udzungwa range (Kigogo). It has also been recorded from

the Ukinga Mountains and the Katessa Forest. The small

patchy distribution and restricted habitat have generated

concern over the preservation of this species.

geographic variation: Two subspecies are recognized.

Records for the Ukinga Mountains and the Katessa Forest

are identifi ed only at the species level.

P. v. vexillarius—Usambara, Uluguru, and Udzungwa moun-

tains (eastern Tanzania). See description above.

P. v. byatti—Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). This subspecies

has no orange on the tip of the tail, a more ochraceous

buff dorsal pelage, and a darker belly.

conservation: IUCN status—near threatened. Population

trend—no information.

Paraxerus vexillarius. Photo courtesy William T. Stanley.