Du Chaillu's rope squirrel explained

Du Chaillu's rope squirrel (Funisciurus duchaillui) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae.[1] It is endemic to parts of central Gabon, within dense tropical rainforests, where it was listed as extinct in 1952, but was then rediscovered in 1993.[2] [3] The species is currently has a "Data Deficient" conservation status brought about by the IUCN Red List. It was named after French zoologist, traveler, and anthropologist Paul Du Chaillu.

Description

Body on average reaches a length of, with a long tail. Weight on average is around . Olive-brown dorsum, with grey and white colorations around limbs. Four dark brown dorsal stripes spread down from its head, in a longitudinal manner. Banded hairs, that are green-yellow and have a black colored tip. Tail is a bright red-brown color, also with a black tip. Rarely seen in pairs.

Diet

Du Chaillu's rope squirrel is known to feast upon the fruits of Xylopia aethiopica and any species from the genus Dialium.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Funisciurus duchaillui Sanborn, 1953 . 2023-05-20 . www.gbif.org . en.
  2. Web site: Holmes . Branden . Funisciurus duchaillui - The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database . 2023-05-20 . recentlyextinctspecies.com . en-gb.
  3. Structure of the squirrel community in the Forêt des Abeilles, central Gabon: rediscovery and revalidation of Funisciurus duchaillui Sanborn, 1953. 2005. Brugière. David. Fleury. Marie-Claire. Colyn. Marc. Mammalia. 69. 2. 223–231. 85286644. 10.1515/mamm.2005.019.