Sciurotamias forresti 299geographic variation: Three subspecies are now re-
ported.
S. d. davidianus—Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi,
Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, and Liaoning
(China). This form is lighter gray on the dorsum; its ven-
ter is more gray and less buff brown.
S. d. consobrinus—northwestern Gansu, western Sichuan,
northeastern Yunnan, and Guizhou (China). The fur is
richer and darker in color, and the feet are black. Postau-
ricular patches may be absent.
S. d. saltitans—southcentral provinces of Sichuan, Chongq-
ing, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Henan, and Anhui
(China). The dorsum is brown.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—no information.
habitat: S. davidianus is typically associated with rocky
habitats, where it nests in underground cavities.
natural history: The diet of Père David’s rock squirrel
includes a variety of seeds and nuts, which it carries with
the aid of cheek pouches and then stores. It both scatter- and
larder-hoards seeds and, in the process, signifi cantly infl u-
ences the dispersal and establishment of several tree spe-
cies, being both a seed predator for some (e.g., wild apricot
[Prunus armeniaca]) and an important dispersal agent for
others (e.g., Liaodong oak [Quercus liaotungensis] and culti-
vated walnut [Juglans regia]). Recent studies demonstrate
similar ecological and evolutionary interactions between
S. davidianus and oaks (Quercus), as is shown for members
of Sciurus and oaks in North America. For example, Père
David’s rock squirrel performs embryo excision on early-
germinating acorns of white oak species to arrest early ger-
mination and the loss of seed stores, in the same way that is
reported for the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
This suggests a convergence of behavioral strategies in
these two distantly related sciurids. Other comparisons be-
tween Sciurotamias and Sciurus, however, show that the for-
mer may be more dependent on olfactory sense than spatial
memory for retrieving and managing scatter-hoards. Two
species of sucking lice are reported from S. davidianus, but
little else is known about the ecology and population biol-
ogy of this species.
general references: Bertolino 2009; Durden and Musser
1994a; Goodwin 2009; Lu and Zhang 2004, 2008; A. T. Smith
and Johnston 2008c; A. T. Smith and Xie 2008; Tate 1947; R. W.
Thorington, Miller, et al. 1998; W. Wang, Ma, et al. 1999;
W. Wang, Zhang, et al. 2007; Xiao et al. 2010; H. M. Zhang
and Zhang 2008; H. M. Zhang et al. 2008; Y. Zhang et al.
1997; Z. B. Zhang et al. 2005Sciurotamias forresti (Thomas, 1922)
Forrest’s Rock Squirreldescription: The dorsal pelage is grayish to dark brown;
the sides are lighter, sometimes with an ochraceous wash.
The back and sides are separated by a pale thin stripe that
runs along both sides of the body. The ventral surface is
pale, but it is similar in color to the sides.size: Female—HB 224.0 mm; T 160.0 mm.
Sex not stated—HB 233.1 mm; T 154.0 mm.distribution: This species is endemic to Yunnan and
southern Sichuan (China). Although S. forresti may occur
farther south outside of China, no data exist to verify this
assertion.geographic variation: None.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—no information.habitat: Forrest’s rock squirrel is usually associated with
rocks, talus slopes, and cliff s, and it is reported to occupy
only 2 of 12 zoogeographic regions of China, usually at ele-