Squirrels of the World

Microsciurus santanderensis 35

red orange. The tail is grizzled black brown with a slight
frosting of yellow or gray (in darker forms). The limbs are
relatively elongated.

size: Both sexes—HB 135–148 mm; T 94–116 mm; Mass
120 g.

distribution: This species is distributed in Panama, west-
ern Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador.

geographic variation: Three subspecies are recognized.

M. m. mimulus—southern half of the range, from northern
Ecuador into Colombia. This form sometimes shows a
black median dorsal line.
M. m. boquetensis—nearly all of Panama, and extending into
northern Colombia. It is somewhat more pale dorsally,
and ochraceous rufous ventrally.
M. m. isthmius—primarily in the central portion of the range,
in extreme southwestern Panama and Colombia. This
subspecies is more yellowish on the dorsum, with a red-
dish color apparent near the posterior.

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

habitat: Western dwarf squirrels are found in evergreen
foothills and highland forests, at elevations above 800 m in
Panama, but at lower elevations in Colombia and Ecuador.

natural history: This species is diurnal. It is occasion-
ally seen in pairs. Western dwarf squirrels forage rapidly

along the ground and in the lower forest canopy, perhaps

foraging for insects. Where it occurs in sympatry with M.

alfari, M. mimulus is found in higher-elevation forests; but

where it is found with Sciurus pucheranii, it seems to move to

lower elevations. Deforestation is rapidly aff ecting the re-

gions inhabited by this dwarf squirrel.

general references: J. A. Allen 1914, 1915; Emmons and

Feer 1990; F. A. Reid 1997; R. W. Thorington and Santana

2007.

Microsciurus santanderensis

(Hernandez-Camacho, 1957)

Santander Dwarf Squirrel

description: Santander dwarf squirrels have a dark

brownish dorsum, with a grayish venter.

size: Both sexes—TL 272–308 mm; T 136–152 mm.

distribution: This species is found in the state of

Santander (and perhaps surrounding states) in Colombia,

between the Magdalena River and the Cordillera Oriental

and west toward the upper portion of the Cordillera

Occidental.

geographic variation: None.

Microsciurus mimulus. Photo courtesy Luis G. Olarte.