Squirrels of the World

Paraxerus alexandri 233

terial or fungal fi lm), fruits, ants, and termites. M. pumilio
moves quickly around a tree, using a lizardlike locomotion
in which it fl attens its small body against the substrate,
splays its elongate limbs around the trunk or branch, and

secures itself with its hooked claws. Its small size and the

elongate toes and missing thumbs on the forefeet enable

this specialized feeding technique. These squirrels do not

cache their food. Individuals spend most of their time

alone, but occasionally they socialize in pairs. They com-

municate with a simple alarm call composed of repeated

sequences of slow low-amplitude pulses, forming an over-

all “piping” sound. A calling individual carries its tail

stiffl y, straight out behind its body, and twitches the base

sideways while keeping the tip centered. The tail serves as

an eff ective alarm display, since the squirrels spend most

of their time on tree trunks, with only their backs visible.

Foraging continues while they emit calls. African pygmy

squirrels probably nest within tree holes. Females may

produce two young, although more research is needed to

confi rm this.

general references: Emmons 1979, 1980.

Myosciurus pumilio. Photo courtesy Nik Borrow.

Paraxerus Forsyth Major, 1893

These 11 species, the bush squirrels of Africa, are generally
medium-sized animals. Bush squirrels are omnivorous,
but principally vegetarian. They inhabit savanna wood-

lands and low brush. Some of these species are able to live

under extreme environmental conditions, using behavioral

adaptations.

Paraxerus alexandri (Thomas and

Wroughton, 1907)

Alexander’s Bush Squirrel

description: A small squirrel, this species has two black
stripes on the back, separated by a mid-dorsal tawny yel-
lowish stripe, and bordered by a dorsolateral white stripe on
an olive or yellowish background. It has white on the back
and the edges of the ears.

size: Female—HB 102.9 mm; T 110.4 mm; Mass 40.2 g.
Male—HB 105 mm; T 127 mm; Mass 54.5 g.
Sex not stated—HB 106.4 mm; T 103.2 mm; Mass 45 g.

distribution: Alexander’s bush squirrel is found in north-
eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

geographic variation: None.

conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—no information.

habitat: P. alexandri is found in lowland tropical moist

forests, at elevations below 1500 m, in tall relatively mature

forests and occasionally in fallow plantations.