Borneo black-banded squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Borneo black-banded squirrel |
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| C. orestes at Kinabalu Park, Malaysia | |
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Callosciurus
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| Species: |
orestes
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Meet the Borneo black-banded squirrel (Callosciurus orestes)! This cool little animal is a type of rodent, just like mice or rats, but it's a squirrel! It belongs to the Sciuridae family, which includes all squirrels. You can only find this special squirrel in northern Borneo; it's what we call endemic there.
Contents
Where Does This Squirrel Live?
This unique squirrel lives in the northern parts of Borneo. It prefers to live in places that are not too high and not too low, usually at middle elevations. Scientists first noted its presence in these areas back in 1985.
Mountain Homes in Borneo
You can find the Borneo black-banded squirrel in several mountain areas. It has been seen on Mount Dulit at heights above 1,000 meters (about 3,280 feet). It also lives in similar high places like Usun Apau, the Kelabit Highlands, and the upper S. Terusan. These are all mountainous spots in northern Sarawak.
Forest Types It Prefers
This squirrel also makes its home on Mount Kinabalu, where it lives between 1,000 and 1,700 meters (about 3,280 to 5,577 feet) high. Another known spot is Mount Trusmadi in Sabah, around 1,500 meters (about 4,921 feet) up. These squirrels seem to stick to specific types of forests. They prefer lower montane forests and upper dipterocarp forests. These are special kinds of rainforests found on mountains.
What Does This Squirrel Look Like and Do?
The Borneo black-banded squirrel has a very interesting look! Its upper fur is a mix of brown colors, giving it a finely speckled appearance.
Distinctive Markings
Behind each of its ears, you might notice a pale, buffy-colored spot. Its belly is grey, and sometimes it can have a hint of reddish color. A cool feature is the black and buffy-white stripe running along its side. This stripe helps it stand out!
Daily Life of the Squirrel
Callosciurus orestes is a diurnal animal. This means it is active during the daytime, just like us! You'll often see them moving around in small to medium-sized trees. They are busy during the day, looking for food and exploring their forest home.
What Does It Eat?
Scientists have recently discovered what these squirrels like to eat. When studying them on Mount Kinabalu, they found that these squirrels enjoy eating fruit. They also eat black ants! This shows they have a varied diet that includes both plants and insects.
Is This Squirrel Safe?
The Borneo black-banded squirrel's safety is checked by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This list helps us know which animals are in danger.
Current Conservation Status
Good news! Callosciurus orestes is listed as "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. It has a wide range across the middle mountain areas of Borneo.
Why It's Not Threatened
Even though some forests are being cut down in Borneo, it's not happening enough to seriously threaten this squirrel. The amount of forest loss is not big enough to make it "Near Threatened" or worse. So, for now, this special squirrel is doing okay in its forest home.
