Sciurus vulgaris 73nous brown shining through. The underparts are a deep
ferruginous color. The ears are blackish, with black tufts
and ferruginous basal patches. White patches occasion-
ally occur on the underparts.
S. v. underwoodi—from El Caliche Cedros (Honduras) south
to the city of Matagalpa (Nicaragua); also in Port Parker
Bay (= Golfo Santa Elena) in Costa Rica. The underparts
are white. The postauricular spots are buff y, and the feet
are dark ochraceous buff y or black. This form has a dark
ochraceous buff lateral line. The upperparts are paler
than in S. v. boothiae.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.
habitat: S. variegatoides is found in dry tropical forests,
generally consisting of varying proportions of deciduous
and evergreen species, usually at lower elevations (< 18 0 0 m).
However, it is reported from elevations as high as 2600 m
in Costa Rica. It is often associated with pine-oak (Pinus,
Quercus) or oak habitats in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Coast
Rica, but not in México and Guatemala, where it occupies
wet tropical lowland forests. It is also frequently observed
in plantations, such as cacao farms in Costa Rica.
natural history: S. variegatoides is primarily granivorous
but sometimes is frugivorous, consuming nuts, some fruits,
and the seeds of many fruits. However, it tends to be highly
selective and avoids hard-shelled seeds and nuts, though
acorns are frequently consumed. The tree species from which
reproductive tissues are eaten by these squirrels vary with
habitat and are described in detail in the literature. Animal
material (e.g., insects and nestling birds) is also consumed.
Dietary diff erences between young animals and adult squir-
rels may relate more to accessibility and the importance of
cover than to actual food preferences. This species is primar-
ily a seed predator, as observations of these squirrels dispers-
ing and storing seeds are lacking. Additionally, this species is
rarely seen on the ground, which allows little opportunity for
scatter-hoarding. S. variegatoides is diurnal; it resides primar-
ily in leaf nests that are constructed near the trunks of trees,
although the use of tree cavities is also reported. Deep vocal-
izations, interpreted as alarms calls, are also noted but not
well studied. This species is abundant and locally common
throughout its range, yet nothing defi nitive is reported about
its breeding and reproductive behavior, or its population
ecology and genetics. Pelage and cranial features suggest a
close relationship with S. aureogaster, as well as the possibility
that S. variegatoides is part of the same species complex as S.
colliaei and S. yucatanensis. Where its range overlaps with that
of S. granatensis in eastern Costa Rica and Panama, S. variega-
toides is more of a habitat generalist and will frequently oc-
cupy dry deciduous forests. This species is also observed to
be sympatric with Syntheosciurus brochus, Microsciurus alfari,
and Sciurus granatensis on the Poas Volcano (Costa Rica). Ex-
tensive observations over several years in Costa Rica indicate
that the variegated squirrel is frequently preyed upon by
white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus), which may engage in
cooperative hunting to aid in capturing the squirrels. Two
ectoparasites—one chigger (Microtrombicula nicaraguae) and
one louse (Enderleinellus hondurensis)—are the only parasites
recorded from this host.general references: Best 1995f; Caro et al. 2001; Cebal-
los, Arroyo-Cabrales, et al. 2002; Gálvez and Jansen 2007; E.
R. Hall and Kelson 1959; Koprowski, Roth, Reid, et al. 2008;
Koster 2008; Monge and Hilje 2006; Nelson 1899; Rose 1997,
2001; Shelley and Blumstein 2005.Sciurus vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Eurasian Red Squirreldescription: The Eurasian red squirrel has a uniformly
dark dorsum, with the color varying from dark red to black
to brown to gray to bluish. The ear tufts are pronounced in
winter and reduced in summer. The venter is white to
cream. The tail is most often the same color as the dorsum,Sciurus variegatoides. Photo courtesy Alex Vargas, http://www.pbase
.com/alex_vargas.