Collie's Squirrel (Sciurus colliaei) lives in tropical rainforest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on nuts and seeds. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Collie's Squirrel
- Female Collie's squirrels weigh about 440.8 g, noticeably more than the 335.2 g typical of males. This size difference is reflected in their overall body measurements, with females averaging 243.4 mm from head to the base of the tail. The species lives chiefly in trees and is active during daylight, especially just after sunrise and before sunset.
- A female Collie's squirrel's tail measures 260.4 mm, exceeding its head-to-base length of 243.4 mm, making the tail longer than the body. This proportion is typical for the species, whose tail is black on top with a white wash and grey underneath.
- Collie's squirrels build nests on outer branches, inside tree-trunk cavities, and even in abandoned termite mounds, providing secure shelter high above the ground. These nesting sites are chosen within the thick tropical and subtropical vegetation where the species lives, especially in Jalisco.
- The Collie's squirrel sports a distinctive tail colour pattern: the top is black with a wash of white except at the base, while the underside is gray and the sides are white. This striking tail sits on a medium-sized animal that bears a generally gray coat, with a darker gray back washed yellowish toward the tail base.
- Beyond the coastal forests, the Collie's squirrel also occupies subtropical canyons at the northern edge of its range. Its distribution spans the western coast of Mexico, covering Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit, Jalisco and Colima, and it prefers areas of thick tropical and subtropical vegetation, especially in Jalisco. The presence in canyon habitats shows the species' adaptability to varied forested landscapes within its Mexican range.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietNuts and seeds
About the Collie's Squirrel
In the sun-dappled forests of Central America, the Collie's Squirrel darts through the underbrush with an air of quiet confidence, its grey and brown coat blending seamlessly into the dappled shade. With each nimble leap, it seems to embody the very essence of agility, its bushy tail flicking back and forth like a metronome as it navigates the intricate network of branches and trunks. As it pauses to survey its surroundings, its large, dark eyes shine with a piercing intelligence, a testament to the remarkable adaptability of this unassuming yet fascinating creature.
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