Microsciurus

Microsciurus^[1] or dwarf squirrels is a genus of squirrels from the tropical regions of Central and South America.

Microsciurus
Microsciurus flaviventer
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Subfamily:	Sciurinae
Tribe:	Sciurini
Genus:	Microsciurus J. A. Allen, 1895
Type species
Sciurus alfari J. A. Allen, 1895
Species
See text

Taxonomy and systematics

Recent DNA analysis has shown that there is some confusion regarding the traditional classification of the species in the genus Microsciurus,^[2] and that the genus may be polyphyletic.^[3] Currently, there are four species recognized:

• Central American dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus alfari) Allen, 1895, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, northern Colombia
• Amazon dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus flaviventer) Gray, 1867, western Amazon basin
• Western dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus mimulus) Thomas, 1898, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama
• Santander dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus santanderensis) Hernández-Camacho, 1957, central Colombia

A 2020 paper published on the taxonomy of Sciurinae split Microsciurus into three genera, one currently unnamed. The paper included genetic sampling from all species except Santander dwarf squirrel and (Microsciurus) simonsi. It suggests several new species, not all described.^[4]

• Microsciurus
  • Central American dwarf squirrel, M. alfari
  • Microsciurus "species 1" from Colombia
• Leptosciurus
  • Western dwarf squirrel, L. mimulus
  • Andean squirrel, L. pucheranii (moved from Sciurus)
  • Leptosciurus similis
  • Leptosciurus otinus
  • Leptosciurnus boquetensis
  • Leptosciurus isthmius
• "Microsciurus"
  • Amazon dwarf squirrel, "M." flaviventer
  • "Microsciurus" sabanillae
  • "Microsciurus" "species 2" from Peru and Brazil (previously assigned to Syntheosciurus)

Description

With a typical head-and-body length of about 15 cm (5.9 in) and a 12 cm (4.7 in) long tail, dwarf squirrels are relatively small. However, the Neotropical pygmy squirrel, not in this genus, is much smaller than these species, as are certain squirrels in Africa and Asia. Microsciurus species have gray or brown backs, and white bellies.

Distribution and habitat

All dwarf squirrels in this genus live in tropical rain forests. Estimates of their abundance are limited.^[5] The IUCN lists the conservation status as "Least Concern" for three of the species and "Data Deficient" for Microsciurus santanderensis.^[6]