Swinhoe's striped squirrel (Tamiops swinhoei) is a small species of rodent in the family Sciuridae.[3] This species is found mostly in China and Southeast Asia. Their diet consists of mostly seeds, fruits, nuts and ginger nectar. Like most squirrels they live in forest areas with mountains, usually in groups. They have litters that average in size of 3.25 offspring.[4]
| Swinhoe's striped squirrel | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Placentalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Genus: | Tamiops |
| Species: | T. swinhoei |
| Binomial name | |
| Tamiops swinhoei (A. Milne-Edwards, 1874) | |
| Subspecies[2] | |
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Physical features
editThey are small bodied with stripes running from their nose to their neck and a second set that run the length of their body to their tail. The stripes range in color from yellow to brown cinnamon. Small tufts of white fur can be seen on the tips of their ears. They have dense fur to accommodate for the high elevation where they live. Females have a longer tail than males.[4]
Reproduction
editSwinhoe's striped squirrels usually breed once every six months. On average they can have 3-6 offspring in a litter.[4]
Diet
editSwinhoe's striped squirrel are herbivores. They eat mostly nuts, seeds, fruits, and ginger nectar. They collect their food and store it for later dates when food is scarce.[5] Swinhoe's striped squirrel engages in nectar robbing on several different ginger species. It makes an opening at the base of the petals/corolla to access the nectar.[6]
Swinhoe's striped squirrel also preys on the eggs of cavity-nesting birds.[7]
Ecosystem contributions
editConsuming seeds and nuts is helpful to disperse seeds and nuts in order for more to grow. This species of squirrel may be eaten locally by humans.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editSwinhoe's striped squirrel is found mostly in Southeast Asia, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Hainan Island, and possibly Laos.[4] They live in tropical rain forest, where there are many mountains, in mostly couples and groups.[5]
References
edit- ↑ Duckworth, J.W. (2017). "Tamiops swinhoei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T21382A22252396. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T21382A22252396.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ↑ Thorington, R.W. Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (3rd ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4. OCLC 26158608.
- ↑ "Tamiops swinhoei - Swinhoe's Striped Squirrel | eMammal". emammal.si.edu. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Minton, Janet. "Tamiops swinhoei (Swinhoe's striped squirrel)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- 1 2 "Animalsort - Swinhoe's striped squirrel". www.animalsort.com. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ↑ Deng, Xiaobao; Mohandass, Dharmalingam; Katabuchi, Masatoshi; Hughes, Alice C.; Roubik, David W. (2015-12-21). "Impact of Striped-Squirrel Nectar-Robbing Behaviour on Gender Fitness in Alpinia roxburghii Sweet (Zingiberaceae)". PLOS ONE. 10 (12) e0144585. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1044585D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144585. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 4687006. PMID 26689684.
- ↑ Liu, Jinmei; Liang, Wei (2021-11-02). "Snake slough in birds' nests acts as a nest predator deterrent". Ethology Ecology & Evolution. 33 (6): 591–602. Bibcode:2021EtEcE..33..591L. doi:10.1080/03949370.2021.1871965. ISSN 0394-9370.
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