242 Paraxerus ochraceusthey usually rest through the hottest period of the day.
These squirrels move quickly and adeptly along branches,
utilizing all elevations from the ground to the treetops.
They are primarily vegetarian and have a broad diet of
fruits, seeds, buds, fl owers, roots, bulbs, acacia gum, and
animal matter. Their predators probably include buzzards,
snakes, and genets (Genetta). Ochre bush squirrels are social
and live either in pairs or small groups. Vocal communica-
tion is used; when threatened, an individual emits a high-
pitched “burr” while fl icking its tail. Before mating, males
and females engage in extensive courtship activities, includ-
ing chasing and grooming one another and arching the tail
over the body as a signal of reproductive interest. Breeding
probably occurs during most months of the year. Females
produce two to three young, and they may nest in pairs
with other females to raise their litters jointly. Females oc-
casionally transport their young by carrying them in their
mouths. The young emerge from the nest at 2–3 weeks of
age.
general references: Amtmann 1975; Kingdon 1974, 1997.
Paraxerus palliatus (Peters, 1852)
Red Bush Squirrel
description: The red bush squirrel varies geographically
in color and size. The dorsal coat and cheeks are brown
grizzled with buff. The ventral pelage, limbs, and feet are
bright red or yellow. The base of the long bushy tail is griz-
zled brown, and the remaining two-thirds are rufous. Body
size and color diff erence are associated with climate and
habitat, with larger darker individuals living in humid for-
ests, and smaller paler squirrels living in dry forests.
size: Female—HB 206.9 mm (n = 19); T 201.4 mm (n = 16);
Mass 307.4 g (n = 73).
Male—HB 212.3 mm (n = 14); T 206.8 mm (n = 14); Mass
312.0 g (n = 91).
Sex not stated—HB 205.9 mm (n = 95); T 196.7 mm (n =
168); Mass 308.5 g (n = 361).
distribution: The red bush squirrel is distributed along
the coast of East Africa, with some populations extending
inland along riverine forests and others inhabiting the is-
lands of Mafi a and Zanzibar (Tanzania). This species ranges
through southeastern Somalia, eastern Kenya, eastern Tan-
zania, Malawi, southeastern Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and
northeastern South Africa. Habitat requirements create a
patchy distribution, limited primarily to coastal areas, river-
ine forests, or mountains (at elevations up to 2000 m). Popu-
lations are recorded from south of the Jube (= Jubba) River
(Somalia), the Tana River (Kenya), the Ruaha River (Tanza-
nia), Mount Mulanje (Malawi), Mount Selinda (Zimbabwe),
and Lake Saint Lucia and the Ongoye Forest (South Africa).geographic variation: Six subspecies are recognized.
Records for Malawi are identifi ed only at the species level.P. p. palliatus—coast of eastern Tanzania and northern Mo-
zambique. It has rufous feet.
P. p. frerei—Mafi a and Zanzibar islands (Tanzania). This sub-
species has black feet.
P. p. ornatus—Ngoye Forest of the Eshowe District, Zululand
(= KwaZulu-Natal), in South Africa. It has a large body,
and its brownish black dorsal pelage is grizzled with
buff. Its ventral pelage is rufous orange. The tail is dark
brownish black tinged with rufous throughout.
P. p. sponsus—coast of eastern Mozambique, south of the
Save River. P. p. sponsus resembles P. p. palliatus in ap-
pearance, but it is spatially separated.
P. p. swynnertoni—Chirinda Forest (southeastern Zimba-
bwe). This species has a cinnamon rufous belly and
cheeks, and a grizzled black and buff dorsal pelage and
face. It resembles P. p. palliatus and P. p. ornatus in color,
but it is smaller in size.
P. p. tanae—southern Somalia through eastern Kenya south
to the Pangani River (northern Tanzania). The tail is
completely rufous orange.