42 Sciurus anomalusyellow to tawny rust. A pale buff to yellow eye ring is pres-
ent. The venter ranges from a chestnut gray buff to pale
grizzled gray to a bright orange. The tail varies from light
brownish yellow to strong rust above with grayish yellow
below.
size: Female—HB 213 mm (198–235 mm); T 147 mm (120–
162 mm); Mass 349 g (274–410g).
Male—HB 216 mm (192–248 mm); T 143 mm (120–157 mm);
Mass 336 g (250–401 g).
distribution: This species is found on the Isle of Lesbos
(Greece) and in Turkey, Transcaucasia (Georgia, Azerbaijan,
and Armenia), Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and Israel.
geographic variation: Three subspecies are recognized.
S. a. anomalus—Isle of Lesbos (Greece), Transcaucasia, Turkey,
and possibly Kurdistan and northern Iraq. This form has
a chestnut gray–buff venter.
S. a. pallescens—Iraq, the Zagros Mountains (western Iran),
and the Fars District (southern Iran). It is characterized
by a venter that is pale grizzled gray.
S. a. syriacus—Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. This sub-
species possesses a bright yellow to golden venter.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—decreasing.
habitat: Caucasian squirrels inhabit mixed and deciduous
forests, although they also occur in coniferous forests and
in rocky outcrops. They can be found in chestnut, walnut,
almond, and olive plantations.natural history: This species is diurnal. Caucasian squir-
rels forage and move nimbly on the ground and in the can-
opy throughout the year. Mating occurs twice each year:
spring mating takes place in April to late May, and summer
mating occurs in August and September. A litter averaging
three (range = 1–7) young is born in a nest. Male parental
care does not occur, and females nurse their young for fi ve
to six weeks. The young mature at 5–6 months of age. Fe-
males born in winter or early spring can breed in late sum-
mer or early autumn, whereas males probably do not breed
until their second year of life. Caucasian squirrels nest in
tree hollows lined with moss and dry leaves; however, nests
may also be found between stones or tree roots, or on build-
ings. Nests may contain more than one adult. S. anomalus
feeds on a variety of coniferous and deciduous tree seeds,Sciurus anomalus. Photo courtesy Süleyman Ugar.