Squirrels of the World

Sciurillus pusillus 31

conservation: IUCN status—data defi cient. Population
trend—no information.

habitat: Neotropical pygmy squirrels prefer mature ever-
green lowland Amazon forests.

natural history: This species is diurnal. Pregnant and
lactating females have been documented in June with a litter
size of one or two. Solitary individuals or family groups are
seen feeding at nearly every layer of the canopy, but S. pusil-
lus appears to be common around 10 m. Some groups con-
tain more than one adult. Agonistic chases are common.

Energetic and excitable, adult and juvenile neotropical

pygmy squirrels quickly dart through the canopy and as-

cend and descend large trees. A major food resource is the

sap and other exudates of the large trees that these squirrels

frequent on a regular basis, and food trees are often distin-

guished by an accumulation of bark chips at the base. Neo-

tropical pygmy squirrels tolerate modest levels of forest

fragmentation. Their alarm call is given at varying levels of

intensity, but it sounds much like a cricket.

general references: Anthony and Tate 1935; Dalecky et

al. 2002; Hafner et al. 1994; Heymann and Knogge 1997.