42 Sciurus anomalus
yellow to tawny rust. A pale buff to yellow eye ring is pres-
ent. The venter ranges from a chestnut gray buff to pale
grizzled gray to a bright orange. The tail varies from light
brownish yellow to strong rust above with grayish yellow
below.
size: Female—HB 213 mm (198–235 mm); T 147 mm (120–
162 mm); Mass 349 g (274–410g).
Male—HB 216 mm (192–248 mm); T 143 mm (120–157 mm);
Mass 336 g (250–401 g).
distribution: This species is found on the Isle of Lesbos
(Greece) and in Turkey, Transcaucasia (Georgia, Azerbaijan,
and Armenia), Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and Israel.
geographic variation: Three subspecies are recognized.
S. a. anomalus—Isle of Lesbos (Greece), Transcaucasia, Turkey,
and possibly Kurdistan and northern Iraq. This form has
a chestnut gray–buff venter.
S. a. pallescens—Iraq, the Zagros Mountains (western Iran),
and the Fars District (southern Iran). It is characterized
by a venter that is pale grizzled gray.
S. a. syriacus—Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. This sub-
species possesses a bright yellow to golden venter.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—decreasing.
habitat: Caucasian squirrels inhabit mixed and deciduous
forests, although they also occur in coniferous forests and
in rocky outcrops. They can be found in chestnut, walnut,
almond, and olive plantations.
natural history: This species is diurnal. Caucasian squir-
rels forage and move nimbly on the ground and in the can-
opy throughout the year. Mating occurs twice each year:
spring mating takes place in April to late May, and summer
mating occurs in August and September. A litter averaging
three (range = 1–7) young is born in a nest. Male parental
care does not occur, and females nurse their young for fi ve
to six weeks. The young mature at 5–6 months of age. Fe-
males born in winter or early spring can breed in late sum-
mer or early autumn, whereas males probably do not breed
until their second year of life. Caucasian squirrels nest in
tree hollows lined with moss and dry leaves; however, nests
may also be found between stones or tree roots, or on build-
ings. Nests may contain more than one adult. S. anomalus
feeds on a variety of coniferous and deciduous tree seeds,
Sciurus anomalus. Photo courtesy Süleyman Ugar.