Sundasciurus hippurus (I. Geoffroy, 1831)

Horse-tailed squirrel

Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System external link, T Orrell (custodian) in 
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT) external link Showing: scientific names

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Table of Contents

Morphology

Physical Description

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Animal Diversity Web external link
Copyright
©1995-2008, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. Some rights reserved external link
Author
Rudolf Haslauer, University of Michigan
Editor
Cynthia Sims Parr, University of Michigan
Editor
Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Source URL
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Citation
Haslauer, R. 2003. "Sundasciurus hippurus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 26, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sundasciurus_hippurus.html. 

 

Sundasciurus hippurus is the largest and most colourful of the Sunda tree squirrels, Sundasciurus, with considerable geographical colour variation in Borneo. This medium-sized squirrel always has a grey head, shoulders, and fore feet. This grey pelage may be more or less grizzled. The upperparts are reddish brown to chestnut. Subspecies differ, the hindlegs may be grey or reddish brown and the underside is whitish, dull orange, or reddish brown. The tail is glossy black or grey and black banded. Despite the common name, horse-tailed squirrel, the tail is not very similar to that of a horse. There are some individuals resembling Callosciurus erythraeus. But in northern Malaysia, where both species occur, horse-tailed squirrels have uniform red undersides, not agouti, and darker and more bushy tails. (Payne, 1985, Lekagul & McNeely, 1977 ; Medway, 1978 ; Corbet & Hill, 1992)

 

Head and body length ranges from 21.5 cm to 25 cm and tail length from 24 to 29 cm. Hind foot length measures from 54 to 64 mm. They weight from 260 to 420 g. (Lekagul & McNeely, 1977; Medway, 1978)

 

The dental formula is 1/1 0/0 2/1 3/3 = 22. (Payne, 1985) (Corbet, G. B., and J. E. Hill, 1992; Lekagul B. and McNeely J. A., 1977; Medway, 1978; Payne et al., 1985)

 
References
  • Medway, L. 1978. The Wild Mammals of Malaya and Singapore. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Corbet, G. B., , J. E. Hill. 1992. Mammals of the Indomalayan region. A systematic review. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 488 pp.
  • Lekagul B., , McNeely J. A.. 1977. Mammals of Thailand. Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, Sahakarnbhat Co., Bangkok, 758 pp.
  • Payne, J, , C.M. Francis, K Phillips. 1985. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Society.
"Sundasciurus hippurus (I. Geoffroy, 1831)". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/128089". Accessed 22 Mar 2010.