Squirrels of the World

Sciurus stramineus 69

S. s. spadiceus—Brazil. The dorsum is grizzled pale yellowish
and dusky. The underparts are ochraceous buff , washed
with reddish orange on the cheeks and head.
S. s. steinbachi—Bolivia. This is a large form. It is paler, with
the upperparts grizzled pale yellowish and dusky, and
the underparts ochraceous buff. It is washed with yel-
lowish on the cheeks and head.
S. s. tricolor—Ecuador and Peru. This is a form with a dark
brown to blackish dorsum washed with ochraceous; the
venter is pale yellow.

conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—no information.

habitat: Southern Amazon red squirrels occur in lowland
forests of the Amazon and in the foothills of the Andes.

natural history: This species is diurnal. Southern Ama-
zon red squirrels are common in mature and disturbed rain-
forests; they are often seen on the ground, in low under-
growth, or in palm trees. Primarily herbivores, S. spadiceus
feeds on the nuts and fruits of palms and other trees. In the
western Amazon region, southern Amazon red squirrels
specialize on large nuts with thick hard endocarps; the
fruits from three large-seeded genera (Astrocaryum, Dipteryx,
and Scheelea) provide 98 percent of their diet. Their loud
gnawing to reach the endosperm through the thickened
coverings is an excellent indicator of the presence of south-
ern Amazon red squirrels. Nuts are often cached in the

ground, and several individuals can easily remove hundreds

of nuts from a palm. Southern Amazon red squirrels do not

travel in the forest canopy, but instead run away in the un-

dergrowth when alarmed. They rarely call, but when threat-

ened they produce an alarm call that sounds much like a

sneeze, followed by a series of “chatters” and “chucks.” Oce-

lots (Leopardus pardalis) and jaguars (Panthera onca) are

known predators. Dogs are trained to hunt S. spadiceus. Al-

though southern Amazon red squirrels are not a preferred

item for hunters, the numbers of S. spadiceus decrease de-

monstrably in areas where this large-bodied squirrel is

hunted for food.

general references: S. Anderson 1997; Bodmer 1995;

Brigido et al. 2004; Eisenberg and Redford 1999; Emmons

1984, 1987; Emmons and Feer 1990; Jernigan 2009; Mena-

Valenzuela 1998; Patton 1984; Peres and Baider 1997.

Sciurus stramineus (Eydoux and

Souleyet, 1841)

Guayaquil Squirrel

description: Guayaquil squirrels show two morphs, but

much variation exists within a population. One morph has

a black head, ears, and feet; the dorsum is a grizzled black

Sciurus spadiceus. Photo courtesy William E. Quatman.