Squirrels of the World

52 Sciurus gilvigularis

general references: J. A. Allen 1915; Eisenberg 1989;
Emmons 1984; Ghilardi and Alho 1990; Linares 1998; Tate
1939.

Sciurus granatensis (Humboldt, 1811)

Red-Tailed Squirrel

description: Red-tailed squirrels possess an extremely
variable pelage. The dominant color in the dorsum is often
a deep red. Variations range from a grizzled black and yel-
low to charcoal with a tinge of yellow; black can take the
form of a median longitudinal stripe. A faint buff to ochre
eye ring is sometimes visible. Melanism is also known.
The venter is nearly always lighter, but it can be white to
yellow to orange red. The upper side of the tail is red to
rust, often grizzled with black and sometimes with a black
tip; the lower surface is yellowish brown to charcoal to
black, often frosted with reddish hues. Populations east of
the Andes most often are white-bellied, Venezuelan popu-
lations often contain more brownish variants, and coastal
Ecuador and Colombia have more blackish forms with a
black-tipped red tail.

size: Both sexes—HB 200–285 mm; T 140–280 mm; Mass
212–520 g.

distribution: This species can be found in Costa Rica,

Panama, Colombia, Venezuela (including Margarita Island),

Trinidad and Tobago, and Ecuador.

geographic variation: This is an extremely variable

form that probably needs a thorough assessment to more

clearly defi ne evolutionary relationships, as indicated by

the great deal of overlap in the characteristics of the subspe-

cies. Here we recognize 32 subspecies.

S. g. granatensis—near the city of Cartagena (Colombia). The

dorsum is orange to orange red, with a sharply contrast-

ing white venter.

S. g. agricolae—near Magdalena (Colombia). It has a brilliant

orange dorsum with a white underside, and a burnt

sienna tail.

S. g. bondae—near Magdalena (Colombia). It has a light red-

dish dorsum with reduced black grizzling, and the un-

derparts are whitish.

S. g. candelensis—Huila (Colombia). It is a darker and more

olivaceous form, with fulvous inner legs.

S. g. carchensis—western slope of the Andes (Ecuador). This

form has a grizzled ochraceous buff and black dorsum

with a whitish venter; the tail is the same color as the

Sciurus granatensis. Photo courtesy Caroline M. Thorington.

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