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- Heliosciurus rufobrachium Waterhouse, 1842
Heliosciurus rufobrachium Waterhouse, 1842
Order: Rodentia > Family: Sciuridae > Genus: Heliosciurus > Species: Heliosciurus rufobrachium Waterhouse, 1842
Common Name: Red-legged Sun Squirrel [English]
Type Description
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., [ser.1], 10:202.
Type Locality
Equatorial Guinea, Bioko '. . . Brought from Fernando Po. . .'
Measurements
Head and body: 200-254 mm
Tail length: 210-300 mm
Weight: 250-403 g
Tail length: 210-300 mm
Weight: 250-403 g
Description
This species is a large form with a dark grizzled appearance on the back. The ventral surface is strikingly paler. The feet are red. The tail is equal in length to, or longer than the head and body, and is ringed (greater than 15 bands).
Comparisons
Heliosciurus undulatus has a lighter back, and the red on the feet is much more subtle. There are less than 15 bands on the tail. H. mutabilis tends to be more orange or sand coloured.
Distribution
Heliosciurus rufobrachium is found in forested habitats at both lower and mid elevations in northwestern Tanzania and on Mafia and Unguja.
Key References
1. Grubb, P. 1982. Systematics of sun-squirrels (Heliosciurus) in eastern Africa. Bonner Zoologische Beitrage 33: 191-204.
2. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Hares and Rodents). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2B:425-430.
3. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 173.
4. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1246, 1281-1282.
5. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.
2. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Hares and Rodents). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2B:425-430.
3. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 173.
4. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1246, 1281-1282.
5. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.