Sciurus variegatoides Ogilby 1839
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
Sciurus
Sciurus variegatoides

description: 91. Variegated Squirrel <i>Sciurus variegatoides</i> <b>French:</b> Ecureuil multicolore / <b>German:</b> Bunthérnchen / <b>Spanish:</b> Ardilla variable <b>Taxonomy.</b> Sciurus variegatoides Ogilby, 1839, “...west coast of South America.” Re- stricted by E. W. Nelson in 1899 to “[El] Salvador.” Fifteen subspecies are recognized. <b>Subspecies and Distribution.</b> S.v.variegatoidesOgilby,1839—EGuatemala,WHonduras,andEElSalvador. S.v.adolpheiLesson,1842—ElRealejo,NWNicaragua. S.v.atrirufusHarris,1930—NicoyaPeninsula,NWCostaRica. S.v.bangsiDickey,1928—SEGuatemala,andWElSalvador. S.v.beltiNelson,1899—EHonduras,ENicaragua. S.v.boothiaeGray,1843—N&amp;CHonduras,andNNicaragua. S.v.dorsalisGray,1849—WNicaragua,andNWCostaRica. S.v.goldmaniNelson,1898—SEChiapas(Mexico)andSWGuatemala. S.v.helveolusGoldman,1912—PacificcoastofWCPanama. S.v.loweryiMcPherson,1972—CCostaRica. S.v.managuensisNelson,1898—EGuatemala. S.v.melaniaGray,1867—PacificcoastlowlandsofWPanama. S.v.nigidusPeters,1863—CCostaRica,extendingtothePacificcoast(GulfofNicoya). S.v.thomasiNelson,1899—ECostaRica. S. v. underwoodi Goldman, 1932 — S Honduras, W Nicaragua, and NC Costa Rica. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body mean 255-9 mm (males) and 260-6 mm (females), tail mean 262-8 mm (males) and 278-7 mm (females); weight mean 536-9 g (males) and 468-8 g (females). The Variegated Squirrel has extremely diverse color varieties from steel-gray to grizzled gray, with yellow wash to nearly all black. Distinct dorsal patch of brown or red is present in some subspecies; venter, neck,sides, and legs are rust. Tail is black, with interspersed white-tipped hairs or frosting of white hairs. Subspecies are among the most variable of any member of the Sciuridae, rivaled only by Finlayson’s Squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysoni) or Eastern Fox Squirrel (S. niger). Nominate variegatoides is relatively drab, with dorsum and base oftail dingy yellowish gray. Venter and feet are dull ocherous. Ears are pale rusty, with postauricular patches of dull buff. Subspecies adolphei has pale iron-gray top of head; dorsum and base oftail are dark gray-brown. Tail is washed with white. Venter is reddish chestnut-brown, sometimes with patchy white. Subspecies atrirufus has broad black band on back and brilliant rufous cinnamon on under parts that extends well up on sides, without any trace of lateral stripe. Subspecies bangsi is light and gray, without rusty wash on dorsum and feet. Ears are edged in black and sometimes have buffy or rusty ear tuft. Basal ear patches, toes, and venter are pure white and offer striking contrasts to dorsal pelage. Venter of belti is uniformly rusty rufous, and feet are grizzled with rust to yellow wash. Subspecies boothiae has dark grayish brown dorsum, washed with shiny black, and black feet and black ears with rusty postauricular patches; and venter is white and separated from dorsum by dull red lateral line. Midline of dorsum of dorsalis is blackish brown or grizzled yellowish brown, surrounded by lighter pelage ranging from buffy to white. Ventral pelage is solid but variable to include white, buffy yellow, or bright rufous. Dorsum of goldmaniis iron gray; ears are black rimmed, tufted with rufous tinge; and postauricular patch and venter are white. Subspecies helveolus is similar to dorsalis and variegatoides, but limbs and under parts are paler. Dorsum of loweryi is predominately black, intermixed with tawny; sides, venter, and postauricular patches are tawny without white patches; and it is smaller than similarly colored dorsalis. Subspecies managuensis is smaller than boothiae, with blackish yellow dorsum and buffy yellow venter. Subspecies melania possesses pelage of uniformly polished black color. Black hairs are ringed once with rust or ocher. Dorsum of rigidus is black, sprinkled with rusty ocheryellow or white. Venter side is rusty and whitish toward midline. Chin and patches at bases of ears are also whitish; limbs are rust, mixed with black. Subspecies thomasi has black dorsum, with underlying dark yellow or ferruginous brown suffused. Venter is deep ferruginous. Ears have black tufts and ferruginous basal patches. White patches occasionally occur on under parts. Under parts of underwood: are white, postauricular spots are buffy, and feet are dark ocherous buffy or black. This form has dark ocherous buff lateral line, with pale dorsal pelage. <b>Habitat.</b> Mixed deciduous-evergreen dry tropical forests usually at elevations below 1800 m but as high as 2600 m. The Variegated Squirrel is often associated with pineoak (Pinus, Pinaceae, and Quercus, Fagaceae) forests in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and Costa Rica but less so in México and Guatemala, where extends into wet tropical lowland forests. It thrives in cacao, coffee, mango, and palm plantations. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> The Variegated Squirrel forages on the ground and in the canopy. It is generally considered to be herbivorous. Diets contain tree seeds and fruits but tend to lack hard-shelled seeds and nuts, though acorns are frequently consumed. Insects and nestling birds are also eaten. The Variegated Squirrel does not appear to scatterhoard or cache seeds, but individuals will discard many seeds after eating fleshy fruits. <b>Breeding.</b> The Variegated Squirrel breeds in April-May, and litters have 4-6 young. <b>Activity patterns.</b> The Variegated Squirrels is diurnal and active throughout the year, with activity typically initiated early in the day. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> The Variegated Squirrel constructs spherical dreys of leaves and twigs, placed in canopies, or uses tree cavities. Individuals appear to live and forage alone, only occasionally interacting with others at concentrated food sources. Foraging occurs in all canopy levels but rarely on the ground. Deep vocalizations have been interpreted as alarm calls. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Variegated Squirrel is stable. In Mexico, it is has special protection due to its marginal distribution. Lack of information on ecology, natural history, or threats likely impedes conservation and management efforts. Indigenous people hunt this large-bodied squirrel for meat and to minimize damage to crops on plantations. <b>Bibliography.</b> Best (1995d), Caro et al. (2001), Ceballos et al. (2002), Galvez &amp; Jansen (2007), Hall &amp; Kelson (1959), Koprowski, Roth, Reid et al. (2008), Koster (2008), Monge &amp; Hilje (2006), Nelson (1899b), Rose (1997, 2001), Shelley &amp; Blumstein (2005), 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 page 749, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6840226