218 Funisciurus isabellasize: Female—HB 165.3 mm (n = 6); T 161.3 mm (n = 6).
Male—HB 161.3 mm (n = 4); T 148.8 mm (n = 4).
Sex not stated—HB 162.8 mm (n = 4); T 155.0 mm (n = 2);
Mass 107.1 g (n = 26).
There is reported sexual dimorphism.
distribution: Endemic to westcentral Africa, this species is
present in patchy distributions. F. isabella is found from the
western Cameroon Highlands as far east as western Central
African Republic, and south through western Republic of the
Congo, central Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. A specimen
was also identifi ed from Brazzaville in southern Republic of
the Congo, but this range extension is questionable.
geographic variation: None.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—no information.
habitat: Lady Burton’s rope squirrel lives along a broad
elevational range (up to 2100 m) in rainforests. This species
prefers thick brush or vine tangles lower than 10 m in
height, mature rainforests, and the dense secondary growth
beside roads and in gardens and cultivated areas, habitats
that it shares with F. lemniscatus in some pa r t s of t heir ra nge.
natural history: These squirrels are diurnal and scanso-
rial, foraging alone or in pairs (69% alone, 21% in pairs, and
10% in threes; n = 29 sightings). As omnivores, a vast major-
ity of their diet consists of fruits and seeds (81% of the dry
mass from stomach contents), with smaller amounts of
green plants (9%), arthropods (6%, made up of ants, termites,
and lepidopteran larvae), and fungi. These squirrels spend
most of their day in vegetation above the ground. They
make nests that resemble those of F. lemniscatus, consisting
of dry leaves and fi bers. Their frequent and distinct calls
serve as the primary way to detect the animal’s presence in
its dense habitat. When mildly alarmed, Lady Burton’s rope
squirrel emits a progression of “chucks,” singly (45% of 71
calls) or up to four in number. The animal’s high-intensity
alarm call is a sustained warbling sound, consisting of 2–10
connected frequency-modulated pulses of sound. The long
tone is preceded by 1–14 repetitive shorter warbles. Females
have four nipples but produce one kitten per litter.
general references: Amtmann 1966; Bates 1905; Dubost
1968; Emmons 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980; Rosevear 1969.
Funisciurus lemniscatus (Le Conte, 1857)
Ribboned Rope Squirreldescription: F. lemniscatus is a small animal, with four
black stripes stretching along the back from the base of the
neck to the rump. The two middle stripes are separated by
a muted brown band, while the outer stripes are separated
from the inner stripes by light yellow lines. The dorsal pel-
age is brown, with the hairs banded black and buff ; the ven-
tral pelage is either white or cream colored, depending on
the animal’s geographical location. The dorsal surface of the
long bushy tail is mixed black and buff , and the ventral sur-
face is a pale yellow color. When at rest, the squirrel curls its
tail over its back. The feet are narrow and elongated, which
probably enhance its terrestrial mobility. This species re-
sembles F. isabella, but the latter can be distinguished by its
smaller size, distinct alarm calls, and diff erent striping pat-
tern, in which the two middle black stripes of F. isabella be-
gin between the ears and all four black stripes are separated
by pale yellow bands.size: Female—HB 167.6 mm (n = 10); T 135.8 mm (n = 10).
Male—HB 170.7 mm (n = 3); T 135.4 mm (n = 3).
Sex not stated—HB 169.3 mm (n = 4); T 160.0 mm (n = 2);
Mass 140.9 g (n = 50).distribution: This squirrel is endemic to West Africa,
from central Cameroon south through Equatorial Guinea,