Species Fact Profile: Prevost's Squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii)

                                                     Prevost's Squirrel

                               Callosciurus prevostii (Desmarest, 1822)

Range: Malay Peninsula (from southern Thailand south through Malaysia), Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo, Bangka, Rhio Archipelago, Sulawesi)

Habitat:  Lowland and Montane Tropical Forest

Diet:  Fruits, Nuts, Seeds, Flowers, and Buds

Social Grouping:  Primarily solitary, sometimes found in small groups

Reproduction: Breeding takes place year round, but peaks between June and August.  Females may have up to three litters per year, each with 1-2 young on average, but can have up to 4.  Gestation period is 5 weeks.  Young are born blind, naked, and toothless, weigh about 16 grams at birth.  They are fully-furred and independent by 6 weeks.  Sexually mature at 1 year old.

Lifespan: 15 Years

      Conservation Status:  IUCN Least Concern

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• Medium-sized squirrel, but largest of its genus.  Body length 12-28 centimeters with an additional 7-25 centimeters of tail.  Weight is approximately 325-400 grams (range 250-500 grams).  Short, blunt snout.  Tail is bushy but somewhat flattened.
• The top of the head, back, and tail are black or dark brown, while the underside is reddish-brown.  The two sides are separated by a thin white line, with white thighs and some whit on the cheeks.  Subspecies can be very variable, with some squirrels appearing almost completely black.  In some the head is completely one color, in others the link of demarcation runs right through the face.   Hair is short and thick, not very soft·
• Most active at dawn and dusk.  At night rest inside tree hollows or in nests of twigs and leaves, wrapped up in their tail for warmth.  Highly arboreal, rarely comes to the ground
• In different parts of their range they have been observed to spend more time in different parts of the tree
• Preference for coconut, rubber seeds, oil palm fruit, and figs.  Possibly important seed dispersers, as they often carry food some distance away from the tree before feeding on it.  They will also consume insects (extracting ants, termites, and beetles from rotten wood) and bird eggs.
• Believed to cache food in the wild (have been observed trying to wedge fruit into cracks in branches).   Juveniles are not observed foraging, and may be fed by adults
• Predation has been observed by yellow-throated marten and crested serpent eagle, but likely occurs from other predators, such as wild felids and snakes, as well
• Taxonomy is murky, up to 44 subspecies have been proposed, many on the basis of differences in coloration or pattern, but the species is highly variable even within a population.  Some authorities recognize as few as 6 subspecies.  Possibly may be a complex of several related species
• Genus name translates to “Beautiful Squirrel” – sometimes called the ornamental or Asian tri-colored squirrel.  Species name honors Florent Prevost, assistant naturalist at the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
• Primary causes for potential decline are loss of habitat (though they will utilize agriculture areas, gardens, and other disturbed habitats) and collection for the pet trade.  May come into contact with farmers as they increasingly feed on oil palms and other cultivated fruits