This genus includes a single species, a ground squirrel of
West A frica.
Epixerus ebii (Temminck, 1853)
African Palm Squirrel
description: These midsized lean squirrels are character-
ized by chevron-shaped bands of red, black, and gray on the
underside of their thick gray-tipped tails. Their tails either
droop or are carried parallel to the ground behind the body.
The short pelage is a muted red color peppered with yellow
and black fur on the dorsal side and some white on the
chest. Their heads are broad, featuring prominent cheek
muscles and large hairless ears that reach above the crown.
The African palm squirrel is often misidentifi ed as Protox-
erus stangeri.
size: Female—HB 278.3 mm (n = 6); T 284.3 (n = 4); Mass
388.0 g (n = 1).
Male—HB 288.3 mm (n = 7); T 277.0 mm (n = 5); Mass
652.0 g (n = 4).
Sex not stated—HB 280.7 mm (n = 3); T 290.0 mm (n = 2);
Mass 577.4 g (n = 14).distribution: This species is found in three pockets
through West Africa: (1) from eastern Sierra Leone to south-
ern Ghana, (2) from southern Cameroon to central Gabon,
and (3) in the central part of the Republic of the Congo.geographic variation: Three subspecies are recog-
nized.E. e. ebii—Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. This subspecies has a
rufous head and a brown dorsal region.
E. e. jonesi—Sierra Leone and Liberia. It has a red head and
back.
E. e. wilsoni—Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the
Republic of the Congo. It is distinguished by its muted
red head and back.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—no information.habitat: These squirrels favor evergreen rainforests, par-
ticularly undergrowth tree species such as raffi a palms (Ra-
phia). Individuals in Liberia were observed in wet and moist
evergreen and semideciduous forests, and in Sierra Leone
they were seen in montane forests, at elevations as high as
1020 m.natural history: The African palm squirrel’s short pe-
riod of daily activity, solitary social habits, wary personal-
ity, and skittish tendencies can make these animals diffi cult
to observe in the forest, and this may contribute to the spe-Tribe Protoxerini Moore, 1959
This tribe contains six genera.
Epixerus Thomas, 1909