Squirrels of the World

Microsciurus fl aviventer 33

[recto/verso]

M. a. alfari: the upperparts are brownish black, grizzled

with cinnamon rufous or rusty red, and it is more cin-

namon rufous on the head and cheeks, with dark rusty

brownish feet. The underparts are grayish brown.

conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.

habitat: Central American dwarf squirrels can be com-
mon in dense evergreen forests, including cloud forests, at
elevations up to about 2600 m. They are sometimes seen in
disturbed forests.

natural history: This species is diurnal. It forages on the
ground and in the canopy, eating plant sap and exudates,
fruits, and insects. M. alfari appears to be seasonally mono-
estrus, and these squirrels are occasionally seen in pairs.
Central American dwarf squirrels scurry quickly across the
ground, through the canopy, and along lianas or tree trunks.
They are graceful and bold in their movements. M. alfari is
rather silent but will make a series of “chatters” and a high-
pitched trill.

general references: J. A. Allen 1915; Emmons and Feer

1990; Fleming 1973; Giacalone et al. 1987; F. A. Reid 1997;

R. W. Thorington and Heaney 1981; R. W. Thorington and

Santana 2007.

Microsciurus fl aviventer (Gray, 1867)

Amazon Dwarf Squirrel

description: Amazon dwarf squirrels have a dark brown

dorsum suff used with reddish to olivaceous tones, and a

pale yellow postauricular patch. The venter is grayish

wa shed w it h ora nge to st ri king pa le or deep ora nge. The ta i l

is grizzled brown to black with a slight frosting of steel gray.

size: Both sexes—HB 120–160 mm; T 96–150 mm; Mass 60–

128 g.

distribution: This species is found in the Amazon Basin

of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil (west of the Negro and

Juruá rivers), and marginally in Bolivia.

geographic variation: Eight subspecies are recognized.

M. f. fl aviventer—eastern portion of the species’ distribution

in Brazil. The pelage is blackish olive, with the middle of

the dorsum being blacker. The venter and the inner side

Microsciurus alfari. Photo courtesy Rhett Butler.