Finlayson's squirrel

Finlayson's squirrel
C. f. bocourti in Bangkok, Thailand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Callosciurus
Species:
C. finlaysonii
Binomial name
Callosciurus finlaysonii
(Horsfield, 1823)
Subspecies[2]

16 subspecies:

  • C. f. finlaysonii
  • C. f. albivexilli
  • C. f. folletti
  • C. f. frandseni
  • C. f. germaini
  • C. f. harmandi
  • C. f. trotteri
  • C. f. annellatus
  • C. f. bocourti
  • C. f. boonsongi
  • C. f. cinnamomeus
  • C. f. ferrugineus
  • C. f. menamicus
  • C. f. nox
  • C. f. sinistralis
  • C. f. williamsoni

Finlayson's squirrel or the variable squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii, sometimes misspelled C. finlaysoni) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The species occurs in a wide range of wooded habitats, including gardens and parks in cities like Bangkok.[3][4] It was named in honour of the Scottish naturalist and traveller George Finlayson.

It has numerous subspecies that vary greatly in appearance. One of these, C. f. bocourti (syn. C. f. floweri[2]), has been introduced to Singapore and two regions in Italy, probably a result of the species' popularity in the pet trade.[5] It is possible that some of the Callosciurus squirrels introduced into Japan are also Finlayson's squirrels.[6]

Finlayson's squirrel has also been introduced in the Philippines, particularly in the Greater Manila area where it is considered as an invasive species.[7]

  1. ^ Duckworth, J.W. (2017). "Callosciurus finlaysonii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T3596A22254494. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T3596A22254494.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Thorington, R.W. Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Callosciurus finlaysonii". 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. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4. OCLC 26158608.
  3. ^ Francis, C.M. (2008). A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia. Pp. 144–145, 333–334. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-13551-9
  4. ^ Ecology Asia: Variable or Finlayson's Squirrel. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  5. ^ Bertolino, S., & Lurz, P. W. W. (2013). Callosciurus squirrels: worldwide introductions, ecological impacts and recommendations to prevent the establishment of new invasive populations. Mammal Review, 43, 22–33. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00204.x
  6. ^ Kuramoto, T., Torii, H., Ikeda, H., Endo, H., Rerkamnuaychoke, W., & Oshida, T. (2012). Mitochondria DNA sequences of Finlayson's squirrel found in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Mammal Study, 37, 63–67
  7. ^ "Invasive squirrel species seen as threat to wildlife and farms | Jonathan L. Mayuga". BusinessMirror. 31 May 2021.