Amazon dwarf squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amazon dwarf squirrel |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Microsciurus
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| Species: |
flaviventer
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| Amazon dwarf squirrel range | |
The Amazon dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus flaviventer) is a tiny tree squirrel that lives in South America. It's about the size of a chipmunk.
About This Squirrel
The Amazon dwarf squirrel is quite small, just like its name says! Its body is about 12 to 16 cm (4.7 to 6.3 in) long. Its tail can be anywhere from 8 to 16 cm (3.1 to 6.3 in) long. These squirrels usually weigh between 86 and 132 g (3.0 and 4.7 oz). Male squirrels are a little bit bigger than females.
Their fur can be reddish or dull brown. It slowly changes to yellow or grey underneath their bodies. They have a special patch of light yellow fur right behind their ears. Their tails have light yellow bands and look a bit frosty white.
These squirrels have unusually long arms and legs for a tree squirrel. Their upper arm bone (humerus) and forearm bone (radius) are the same length. This helps them climb big trees more easily. Their longer back legs give them strong muscles. This allows them to jump over bigger spaces than other squirrels their size.
Where They Live
You can find Amazon dwarf squirrels in the upper Amazon Basin. This area is mostly west of the Purus and Rio Negro rivers. They live in countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.
They usually make their homes in tropical rainforests that stay green all year. They can live up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) high in the mountains. Sometimes, you might even find them in places where the forest has been changed by people.
Squirrel Families
Scientists have found eight different types, or subspecies, of the Amazon dwarf squirrel. These different groups live in various parts of the Amazon region. For example, some live in western Brazil and northern Peru. Others are found in places like Ecuador or Colombia.
How They Live and Behave
Amazon dwarf squirrels use all parts of the forest. They can be on the ground or high up in the treetops. But they are most often found in the lower parts of the forest, called the understory.
They eat small bugs, tree bark, and fungi (like mushrooms). Sometimes, they follow groups of birds while they are looking for food. Scientists are not sure why they do this.
These squirrels are active during the day. They spend almost all their time in trees, which is called being arboreal. They are very good at jumping from one branch to another. At night, they sleep in nests made from plant fibers. These nests are usually several meters (many feet) above the ground.
Most of the time, Amazon dwarf squirrels live alone. But sometimes, you might see a few of them eating from the same tree. They make different sounds. One sound is a bird-like "trill." They also make soft "chucks" when they sense danger. Not much is known about how they have babies. But it is thought that they have only a few babies at a time.
See also
In Spanish: Ardilla pigmea del Amazonas para niños
