Squirrels of the World

Syntheosciurus brochus 77

Sciurus yucatensis. Photo courtesy Jim McCulloch.

through the canopy in the early morning or resting on a

branch during the heat of the day. Leaf nests are built on

branches high in the canopy. Primarily herbivorous, S. yu-

catanensis feeds on soft fruits, nuts, seeds, fl owers, buds, and

shoots. A litter of two to three young is produced during the

dry season (April–July). Raptors are probably a major preda-

tor, along with felids, canids, procyonids, primates, and

snakes. Deforestation is the major threat to this species;

however, Yucatan squirrels are hunted, especially in Yuca-

tán and Quintana Roo (México), and exploited populations

may be reduced.

general references: Best, Ruiz-Piña, et al. 1995; Faller-

Menéndez et al. 2005; Gerhardt et al. 1993; León and Montiel

2008; Pozo de la Tijera and Escobedo Cabrera 1999; F. A.

Reid 1997.

Syntheosciurus Bangs, 1902

This genus contains a single species.

Syntheosciurus brochus (Bangs, 1902)

Bangs’s Mountain Squirrel

description: Bangs’s mountain squirrels have a grizzled
brown olivaceous dorsum, continuing onto the tail. The un-
derside of the tail is charcoal to black, and the tip is black.
The ventral surface of the body is grayish to a pale orange.

size: Both sexes—HB 150–185 mm; T 120–160 mm.

distribution: This species is found in Costa Rica and north-
ern Panama.

geographic variation: None.

conservation: IUCN status—near threatened. Population
trend—no information.

habitat: Bangs’s mountain squirrels are found in montane
cloud forests, evergreen forests, secondary forests, and pas-
ture edges, at elevations from 1900 to 2300 m.