The Amazon dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus flaviventer) is a chipmunk-sized tree squirrel native to South America.
As its name suggests, the Amazon dwarf squirrel is relatively small, with a head-body length of 12cmto16cmcm (05inchesto06inchescm) and a tail 8cmto16cmcm (03inchesto06inchescm) long. Adults weigh between 86g132g, with males being slightly larger than females.[1] The fur varies from reddish to dull brown, fading gradually to yellow or greyish on the underparts. There is a distinctive patch of pale yellow fur behind the ears, while the tail has faint yellowish bands and white frosting.[2]
The limbs are unusually long for tree squirrels. In the forelimbs, the humerus and radius are of equal length, an adaptation thought to increase the squirrel's ability to climb large trees, compensating for a lack of shoulder mobility. The longer hindlimbs allow for stronger muscles, so that the squirrel can leap over larger gaps, relative to its size, than more typically sized squirrels can.[2]
The squirrels are found in the upper Amazon Basin, broadly west of the Purus and Rio Negro rivers, in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. They typically inhabit evergreen tropical rainforests at up to 2000m (7,000feet) elevation,[2] although they may sometimes be found in more disturbed habitats.[3]
Eight subspecies of Amazon dwarf squirrel are generally recognised.[4] [2] Recent studies have indicated that the subspecies M. f. otinus, M. f. sabanillae, M. f. similis, and M. f. simonsi are their[5] own distinct species rather than subspecies. The same study also showed that M. f. otinus and M. f. similis are more closely related to Microsciurus mimulus and Sciurus pucheranii than they are to M. flaviventer.
| Subspecies | Authority | Synonyms | Distribution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. f. flaviventer | Gray (1867) | manarius | Western Brazil, northeastern Peru | |
| M. f. napi | Thomas (1900) | avunculus, florenciae | Northeastern Ecuador | |
| M. f. otinus | Thomas (1901) | none | Western Colombia | |
| M. f. peruanus | J. A. Allen (1897) | none | Northern Peru | |
| M. f. rubrirostris | J. A. Allen (1914) | rubicollis | Southern Peru | |
| M. f. sabanillae | Anthony (1922) | none | Southern Ecuador | |
| M. f. similis | Nelson (1899) | none | Far western Colombia | |
| M. f. simonsi | Thomas (1900) | none | Central eastern Ecuador |
The squirrels use all levels of the forest, from the ground to the tree canopy, but are most commonly found in the understory. They feed on arthropods, tree bark, and fungi, and have been observed to closely follow flocks of birds while foraging, although the reason for this is unclear. They are diurnal and highly arboreal, even for tree squirrels, frequently jumping from branch to branch. They spend the night in nests formed from plant fibres, and located several metres above the ground.[2]
They are mostly solitary, but may be found with others feeding on the same tree. Their calls include a bird-like "trill" and a series of soft "chucks" used as an alarm call. Very little is known of their reproduction, although litters are thought to be small.[2]