246 Paraxerus vexillariushabitat: Swynnerton’s bush squirrel is limited to montane
forests.
natural history: Little is known about this species. P.
vexillarius is arboreal, and it forages on fruits and seeds.
general references: G. M. Allen 1939; G. M. Allen and
Loveridge 1933; Amtmann 1975; Ellerman 1940; Kingdon
1974, 1997.
Paraxerus vincenti Hayman, 1950
Vincent’s Bush Squirrel
description: Vincent’s bush squirrel is a medium-sized to
large animal with a black and red body. The dorsal pelage,
limbs, and the tops of the feet are grizzled black. The ventral
coat, nose, and eye region are deep rufous. The crown of the
head and the cheeks are dark brown. The long tail is black
brown with rufous on the distal tip. P. vincenti strongly re-
sembles P. palliatus, but the former has a darker rufous col-
oration on the ventral pelage.
size: Female—HB 208.0 mm (n = 2); T 213.5 mm (n = 2).
Male—HB 214.7 mm (n = 3); T 206.0 mm (n = 3).
Sex not stated—HB 212.0 mm (n = 5); T 209.0 mm (n = 5).
distribution: Vincent’s bush squirrel is found only on
Mount Namuli in central Mozambique (15.21° S, 37.04° E), at
elevations from 1200 to 1850 m. Few surveys have been car-
ried out in this region, and it is not known whether this
species is present in the surrounding mountains.
geographic variation: None.conservation: IUCN status—endangered. Population
trend—decreasing.habitat: Vincent’s bush squirrel inhabits montane moist
evergreen forests.natural history: No information is available.general references: Hayman 1950; Smithers and Lobão
Tello 1976; Viljoen 1989.Protoxerus Forsyth Major, 1893
This genus of African ground squirrels includes two species
of large animals that are prominent in West and Central
Africa.
Protoxerus aubinnii (Gray, 1873)
Slender-Tailed Squirrel
description: P. aubinnii is a large brown squirrel. The dor-
sal pelage, head, and limbs are dark brown grizzled with
yellow or buff. The ventral pelage is a paler brown. The ears
are small, round, and covered in thick hair. The long tail is
black and grizzled with yellow or buff toward the tip.
size: Female—HB 240.0 mm (n = 7); T 304.4 mm (n = 7); Mass
454.3 g (n = 4).
Male—HB 239.7 mm (n = 9); T 300.7 mm (n = 9); Mass 415.0
g (n = 3).
Sex not stated—HB 255.0 mm (n = 3); T 300.0 mm (n = 2);
Mass 525.0 g (n = 1).distribution: The slender-tailed squirrel is found in West
Africa, through southeastern Sierra Leone, southern
Guinea, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and southwestern Ghana.