Prosciurillus alstoni

Habitat. Primary tropical lowland evergreen rain forests, at elevations of ¢. 30 - 1200 m. Alston’s Squirrel appears to be associated with streams and riparian areas.

Sumber: Sciuridae

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Alston’s Squirrel is known to be sympatric with the Celebes Dwarf Squirrel (P. murinus), the Sulawesi Giant Squirrel (Rubrisciurus rubriventer), and the Lowland Long-nosed Squirrel (Hyosciurus ileile) in the central core and Southeast Peninsula of Sulawesi.

Sumber: Sciuridae

Status and Conservation. Alston’s Squirrel has not yet been assessed as a distinct species on The IUCN Red List.

Sumber: Sciuridae

Descriptive notes. Head-body 157 - 195 mm, tail 135 - 180 mm; weight 135 - 210 g. Dorsum of Alston’s Squirrel, from forehead to base of tail, is dark brown flecked with black and orange, grading to brownish gray spotted with black and pale buff on sides of body, head, and limbs. Color of dorsal surface of feet is same as dorsum. Cheeks are buffy to ocherous and ears have conspicuous white tufts 5 - 8 mm long. Color of white tufts varies from pure white to whitish buff, but tufts can be absent in some individuals. Venter is short, deep dark red, nearly reddish brown, or chestnut, but in some individuals of the Southeast Peninsula, it can be reddish orange or orangered. Dorsal surface of tail alternates black and buff bands, with a terminal black tuft, and ventral surface is reddish. Alston’s Squirrel can be distinguished from other species of Prosciurillus by absence of nape patches and black mid-dorsal stripe.

Sumber: Sciuridae

Distribution. C, E & SE Sulawesi, and the nearby Kabaena and Buton Is.

Sumber: Sciuridae