Sciurillus pusillus (É. Geoff roy, 1803)
Neotropical Pygmy Squirrel
description: Neotropical pygmy squirrels have a gray
dorsum suff used with yellow. They are cinnamon to red on
the head; they have prominent white to buff postauricular
patches, and black-tipped ears. The venter is gray to buff.
size: Both sexes—HB 89–115 mm; T 89–120 mm; Mass
33–45 g.
distribution: This species is found in Peru, Colombia,
Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil.
geographic variation: Three subspecies are recognized.S. p. pusillus—Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. This
form is sl ig ht ly more buff or brow n, a nd t he head is more
reddish.
S. p. glaucinus—lower Amazon of Brazil. This is a paler form.
S. p. kuhlii—upper Amazon of Peru. This subspecies typi-
cally lacks postauricular patches, and it is more buff to
brown.Subfamily Sciurillinae Moore, 1959
This subfamily has just one genus.
Sciurillus Thomas, 1914
This genus contains a single species of pygmy squirrel.
Sciurillus pusillus. Photo courtesy Edward Massiah.