The Irrawaddy squirrel (Callosciurus pygerythrus) or hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae.
Irrawaddy squirrel | |
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Nagarjun Forest, Kathmandu, Nepal | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Sciuridae |
Genus: | Callosciurus |
Species: | C. pygerythrus
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Binomial name | |
Callosciurus pygerythrus (I. Geoffroy, 1832)
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Subspecies[2] | |
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Description
editIrrawaddy squirrels vary in fur color, with some squirrels being greyish-brown and reddish-brown, and some squirrels being grizzled. Some squirrels have dark tips on their tails and pale hip patches. Its head to body length is about 20 centimeters and its tail length is about 20 centimeters as well.[citation needed] Irrawaddy squirrels weigh approximately 45 grams.[citation needed]
Distribution
editIt is native to Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Most squirrels that live in Myanmar live west of the Irrawaddy River. Irrawaddy squirrels can live in several types of forests, including deciduous broad-leaved woodland, coniferous evergreen forests, mixed agricultural areas, and secondary growth forests. They can also live in lowlands and lower mountainous regions, at around 1500 meters. It is threatened by habitat loss.[3]
Diet
editIrrawaddy squirrels mainly eat nuts, seeds, fruits, bark, lichen, and various types of vegetation, however, they may occasionally eat insects and small vertebrates.[citation needed]
Gallery
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(Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, West Sikkim, India, 29.10.2015)
References
edit- ^ Duckworth, J.W. (2016). "Callosciurus pygerythrus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3604A22253451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3604A22253451.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Thorington, R.W. Jr; Hoffman, R.S. (2005). "Species Callosciurus pygerythrus". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ "Irrawaddy Squirrel - Callosciurus pygerythrus". www.ecologyasia.com. Retrieved 2021-10-21.