Calabrian Black Squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis) lives in mediterranean forests across Southern Italy. It feeds on acorns and nuts. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
Fascinating facts about the Calabrian Black Squirrel
- Genetic testing in 2024 pinpointed the Calabrian black squirrel's most recent ancestor to central Calabria during the Middle Pleistocene. Afterwards, the species underwent multiple periods of expansion and fragmentation as its preferred habitat extended during interglacials and shrank during glacial periods, culminating in its present range centered around three populations centered on distinct mountain massifs.
- Weighing 280-530 g (10-18.5 oz), the Calabrian black squirrel is on average about 35 % heavier than the red squirrels of northern Italy, making it noticeably bulkier in the trees. Compared to red squirrels of northern Italy, the Calabrian black squirrel is also significantly larger, weighing 280-530 g (10-18.5 oz) or on average about 35% more. Its monomorphic coat stays dark brown to blackish with white underparts.
- The squirrel lives in mixed high-land forests, preferring black pine because its seeds are a key food source. It mostly occurs near black pine, as the seeds are an important food source. In the Sila massif, the densest populations tend to occur in areas of mixed European beech and black pine woodland, followed by pure black pine, while pure beech and chestnut forests tend to host the lowest population densities. The historic range consisted of three distinct populations, but the Sila and Pollino groups have merged in recent decades due to reforestation linking their highlands.
- Seasonal shifts drive the squirrel's menu: in spring and early summer it feasts on berries, pine buds, shoots, and male flowers; over the summer the focus turns to the seeds of immature pine cones; and in autumn it swaps to chestnuts and beechnuts. In spring and early summer, berries and pine buds, shoots, and male flowers are the primary sources of forage. Over the summer, their primary food source shifts to the seeds of immature pine cones. In autumn, the squirrels' diet favors chestnuts and beechnuts.
- Although its numbers are stable, the Calabrian black squirrel's tiny, fragmented range pushes it toward a Near-Threatened status on the IUCN list. The Calabrian black squirrel has a stable population, but its small range means that it likely qualifies for near threatened or perhaps vulnerable; the IUCN lists it as near threatened. The biggest danger comes from the introduced Finlayson's squirrel, which now lives near its habitat. Its northernmost limit sits more than 100 km (60 mi) from the southern edge of the Italian red squirrel's range, underscoring how isolated each species has become.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouthern Italy
HabitatMediterranean forests
DietAcorns and nuts
About the Calabrian Black Squirrel
In the sun-dappled forests of Calabria, the Calabrian Black Squirrel embodies a whimsical spirit, its sleek black fur glistening like the night sky as it darts with agile precision through the trees. With a twitch of its bushy tail, it leaps from branch to branch, its paws barely touching the bark as it navigates its arboreal realm with effortless ease. As it forages for nuts and seeds, its bright, inquisitive eyes shine like beacons, illuminating the hidden world of this enchanting creature.
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