Rheithrosciurus macrotis
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
Rheithrosciurus
Rheithrosciurus macrotis

description: 104. Tufted Ground Squirrel <i>Rheithrosciurus macrotis</i> <b>French:</b> Ecureuil a pinceaux / <b>German:</b> Borneo-Hérnchen / <b>Spanish:</b> Ardilla terrestre de penachos <b>Other common names:</b> Groove-toothed Squirrel <b>Taxonomy.</b> Sciurus macrotis Gray 1857, “Sarawak,” Malaysia. This species is monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> Borneo. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 335-352 mm, tail 299-342 mm; weight 1.2-1.3 kg. Tufted Ground Squirrels have distinctive longitudinal groove on incisors and skull that is relatively long and flat. Baculum resembles axe-like structures of other species of Sciurinae rather than species of Callosciurinae common to the Indo-Malayan Region. Dorsum of the Tufted Ground Squirrel is brown, with slightly grizzled reddish tone. Shoulders and front limbs are sometimes more grizzled, with grayish wash. Hips, hindlimbs, and base of tail are reddish bay. White, buff, or yellow stripe runs longitudinally along flank, sometimes in tandem with dark brownish lateral stripe. Ears are large, with exaggerated reddish to dark brownish tufts up to 30 mm long. Underside is pale gray, buff, or white. Tail is grizzled charcoal, heavily frosted with white and is the most conspicuous feature. Robust tail represents 130% of the volume of the body, making it proportionally the largest tail of any mammal. <b>Habitat.</b> Lowland hilly primary forest at elevations less than 1100 m. Other habitats of the Tufted Ground Squirrel have not been sufficiently surveyed. It is occasionally found in orchards and secondary forests but is rarely seen in conjunction with human developments. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> Opportunistic sightings and camera traps suggest that the Tufted Ground Squirrel forages on the ground and in the lower canopy, most often with the tail held high overhead. Holding the tail in a vertical position may serve an antipredator function. Tufted Ground Squirrels will also climb high into the canopyforits main foods, including fruits, thick-shelled nuts and seeds, and insects. When foraging in the canopy, Tufted Ground Squirrels do not avoid macaques (Macaca) and even forage in the same tree. <b>Breeding.</b> There is no information available for this species. <b>Activity patterns.</b> Tufted Ground Squirrels are diurnal. They are rare, live at low densities, and appear sensitive to timber harvest. They cause damage in forest gardens and are considered destructive pests in local areas. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> There is no information available for this species. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Tufted Ground Squirrel is believed to be declining. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats as are excessive harvests due to hunting with snares. Lack of knowledge on basic natural history impedes conservation. <b>Bibliography.</b> Ambu et al. (2009), Azlan &amp; Lading (2006), Blate et al. (1998), Corlett (1998), Kurland (1973), MacKinnon et al. (1996), Meijaard &amp; Sheil (2008), Meijaard et al. (2014), Payne &amp; Francis (1985), Salafsky (1993), Thorington et al. (2012).
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 pages 755-756, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6840226