74 Sciurus vulgarisbut it can be lighter in shade or nearly white in some subspe-
cies. Melanism is common, especially in mainland, boreal,
and montane populations.
size: Both sexes—HB 206–250 mm; T 150–205 mm; Mass
235–480 g.
distribution: This species is found in forested regions of
the Palearctic, from Great Britain south to the Iberian Pen-
insula and then east to the Mediterranean and Black seas,
the Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island (Russia), the
island of Hokkaido (Japan), northern Mongolia, and west-
ern and northeastern China.
geographic variation: Evolutionary relationships are
sorely in need of investigation across the massive geographic
range of S. vulgaris. There are 22 subspecies.
S. v. vulgaris—southern Scandinavia. This smallish subspe-
cies has a reddish dorsum and lacks a dark phase.
S. v. alpinus—Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and all
of Italy. This form is an intense russet brown over the
dorsum.
S. v. altaicus—Altai (eastern Russia) and northern Mongolia.
This is a highly variable form that includes extremely
dark variants.
S. v. anadyrensis—far northern Russia and across Siberia.
During winter this form has a tinge of chestnut suff usion
in its grayish dorsal pelage.
S. v. arcticus—boreal Siberia to the Lena River. This form has
a reddish to bay dorsum, with a white venter.
S. v. balcanicus—eastern Balkan Peninsula (southeastern Eu-
rope). This is a more brownish form.
S. v. chiliensis—eastern China. This form is black across the
dorsum and tail, with varying amounts of reddish.
S. v. dulkeiti—Amur region of far eastern Siberia including
the Shantar Islands (Russia). The form with a black or
black chestnut dorsum and a black tail throughout the
year is common.
S. v. exalbidus—western Siberia, east of the Ob River (Rus-
sia). This form is characterized by a light coloration that
is pale buff gray in winter with a light gray tail.
S. v. fedjushini—Belarus and vicinity. This subspecies has a
rich dark reddish brown dorsum, with a dark chestnut or
red tail.
S. v. formosovi—northwestern Russia. The winter pelage is
gray, with a chestnut tail.
S. v. fuscoater—central Europe. This is a bright red form,
with a white venter.
S. v. fusconigricans—northern Mongolia and China. This
subspecies is usually dark chestnut or black chestnut in
summer and dark black to bluish gray in winter. The ven-
ter is white over a small area.
S. v. leucourus—British Isles. It is characterized by a reddish
dorsum, with a tail that often fades to near white in
summer.Sciurus vulgaris. Photo cour tesy A. Coke Smith, http://www.cokesmith
phototravel.com.