279.

Carruther’s Mountain Squirrel

Funisciurus carruthersi

French: Ecureuil de Carruthers / German: Carruthers-Rotschenkelhérnchen / Spanish: Ardila listada africana de Carruthers

Taxonomy. Funisciurus carruthersi Thomas, 1906,

“Ruwenzori East,”

Uganda.

Four subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

Ec. carruthersi Thomas, 1906 — Rwenzori

Mts, E DR Congo and W Uganda.

Ec. birungensis Gyldenstolpe, 1927 - SW

Uganda, Rwanda, and NW Burundi.

E c. chrysippus Thomas, 1923 — NW of Lake

Tanganyika (DR Congo).

FE c. tanganyikae Thomas, 1909 — Mts N of Lake Tanganyika (W Burundi); potentially extending into DR Congo.

Descriptive notes. Head—body mean 208-7 mm (males) and 224 mm (females), tail 189-9 mm (males) and 191-7 mm (females); weight mean 268 g. Carruther’s Mountain Squirrel is medium-sized, with unique dark green dorsal pelage and bright buff eye ring. Venteris light gray countershading. Tail is full and yellow-and-black striped with black tip. Subspecies birungensis has yellowish green sides, and ears have grayish white hairs. Tail is mixed white, black, and ocherous. Subspecies chrysippus has yellowish ventral pelage. Subspecies tanganyikae is darker, and limbs are brighter ocherous.

Habitat. Dense moist montane forests at elevations above 1500 m. Carruther’s Mountain Squirrels prefer primary forests and struggle to persist in cultivated areas; however, they can live in the high-elevation African redwood tree (Hagenia, Rosaceae) that colonizes naturally disturbed or harvested areas.

Food and Feeding. Carruther’s Mountain Squirrel is primarily herbivorous and feeds heavily on seeds, gourds, and fruits of Bridelia (Phyllanthaceae), Alchornea (Euphorbiaceae), Carapa grandiflora (Meliaceae), and Strombosia scheffler: (Olacaceae). Insects are occasionally eaten when encountered.

Breeding. Lactating female Carruther’s Mountain Squirrels were observed in May. Large nests lined with shredded bark are constructed in woody vines.

Activity patterns. Carruther’s Mountain Squirrel is diurnal and is active from dawn to dusk. It forages in all levels of the canopy and appears to be equally effective moving on ground and in canopy.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Carruther’s Mountain Squirrel appears to be relatively asocial but is occasionally seen in pairs. Alert individuals emit a hoarse-sounding quack.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. No data are available on population trends. Habitat loss and extraction of forest resources do not yet seem to be having a significant impact at present and therefore are not major threats.

Bibliography. Kaleme et al. (2007), Kingdon (1974, 2013e), Linnaeus (1758), Schlitter (1989), Thorington etal. (2012).