Microsciurus alfari
Creators: name: Wilson, Don E.
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Sciuridae
Microsciurus
Microsciurus alfari

description: 105. Central American Dwarf Squirrel <i>Microsciurus alfari</i> <b>French:</b> Ecureuil dAlfaro / <b>German:</b> Mittelamerika-Zwerghérnchen / <b>Spanish:</b> Ardilla enana de Centroamérica <b>Other common names:</b> Alfaro’'s Pygmy Squirrel <b>Taxonomy.</b> Sciurus alfari J. A. Allen, 1895, “Costa Rica, Jimenez.” Six subspecies are recognized. <b>Subspecies and Distribution.</b> M.a.alfanJ.A.Allen,1895—NECostaRicaneartheTurrialbaVolcano. M.a.alticolaGoodwin,1943—NCCostaRica. M.a.brown:Bangs,1902—WCostaRicaandWPanama. M.a.fusculusThomas,1910—extremeEPanamaandadjacentWColombia. M.a.septentrionalisAnthony,1920—NCCostaRicaandmarginallyinSNicaragua. M. a. venustulus Goldman, 1912 — C Panama, Caribbean coast of W Panama. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 108-146 mm,tail 80-130 mm; weight 72-105 g. The Central American Dwarf Squirrel has dull-colored back that is olivaceous brown to olivaceous black, sometimes with reddish tinge. Venter is dull buff, gray, or pale orange buff. There are often white spots at bases of ears. Tail is dark olivaceous brown at the core but frosted with orange. Limbs are long relative to body length. Subspecies are difficult to distinguish, and the genus Microsciurus needs a contemporary assessment. As the high-elevation subspecies, alticola has long dense fur and is large. <b>Habitat.</b> Dense evergreen forests, including cloud forests, at elevations that reach 2600 m. Central American Dwarf Squirrels sometimes are seen in disturbed forests. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> The Central American Dwarf Squirrel forages on the ground, along tree trunks, and in the canopy. It eats plant sap and exudates,fruits, and insects. <b>Breeding.</b> The Central American Dwarf Squirrel appears to be seasonally monoestrous and occasionally is seen in pairs. <b>Activity patterns.</b> Central American Dwarf Squirrels are diurnal, and they energetically and rapidly move on all substrates from ground to canopy, tree trunks, and lianas. They have been described as moving with purpose and grace when they rapidly scale trees and leap across canopy gaps. They occasionally chatter or emit high-pitched trills, but they are generally quiet rainforest occupants. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> There is no information available for this species. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Central American Dwarf Squirrel is believed to be stable. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major conservation threats. Lack of knowledge on basic natural history impedes conservation action. <b>Bibliography.</b> Allen (1915b), Emmons (1990), Fleming (1973), Giacalone et al. (1987), Reid (1997), Thorington &amp; Heaney (1981), Thorington &amp; Santana (2007), de Vivo &amp; Carmignotto (2015).
description: Published as part of <i>Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr &amp; Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Sciuridae, pp. 648-837 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on page 756, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6840226