Dwarf scaly-tailed squirrel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dwarf scaly-tailed squirrel
Anomalurus pusillus Artist: Joseph Smit, 1888
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Anomaluridae
Genus:	Anomalurus
Species:	A. pusillus
Binomial name
Anomalurus pusillus Thomas, 1887
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The dwarf scaly-tailed squirrel (Anomalurus pusillus) is a small type of rodent. It belongs to a special family of squirrels called Anomaluridae. These squirrels are found in several countries in Africa. You can find them in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Uganda.

This squirrel is active at night, which means it is nocturnal. It also lives in trees, so it is arboreal. Its home is in warm, wet subtropical or tropical lowland rainforests. It has special skin flaps, like membranes, connected to its legs and tail. These membranes help it glide from one tree to another. Scientists do not think this squirrel is currently in danger. Its forest home is still mostly safe from being destroyed.

Meet the Dwarf Scaly-tailed Squirrel

This squirrel is a small, gliding animal. Adult squirrels are about 18.5 to 25.5 centimeters (7.3 to 10.0 inches) long. Their tail adds another 12 to 20 centimeters (4.7 to 7.9 inches) to their length. These squirrels usually weigh between 170 and 300 grams (6.0 and 10.6 ounces).

Their head is grey. The edges of their ears do not have a different color. The fur on their back can be many colors. It might be black, grey, olive brown, or even mottled tan. The top side of their gliding membranes is dark grey. Near the tail, the membranes might look a bit yellow. Their belly is usually creamy white or yellowish. It never has a reddish-brown color. The fur around their back claws is white.

Like other scaly-tailed squirrels, this one has a membrane. This membrane connects its back legs to the lower part of its tail. This part of the tail also has a patch of large, tough scales underneath. The rest of the tail looks like a plume or feather.

Where They Live: Habitat and Range

The dwarf scaly-tailed squirrel lives in the tropical parts of western and central Africa. Scientists believe there are at least two separate groups of these squirrels. One group lives in West Africa, in Liberia. A few squirrels were found there.

The other group lives in Central Africa. Their home includes southern Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. They also live in northern Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You can also find them in the southwestern Central African Republic and eastern Uganda. It is possible that these groups are actually connected. This squirrel is quite shy, so it might live in the areas between these known places.

These squirrels usually live deep inside forests. They do not often live near the edges of forests. They also avoid mixed woodlands. One squirrel was found high up in the mountains. It was at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) in Mugaba. This area is in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Life in the Forest: Ecology

The dwarf scaly-tailed squirrel lives in trees and is active at night. Like other squirrels in its group, it can jump from a tree. Then it glides through the air to land on a lower branch. During the day, it hides in its nest. This is usually a crack or hole in a tree. It might also be a hollow tree. Sometimes, it just clings to a tree trunk or branch. Its colors help it blend in, making it hard to see. This is called camouflage.

These squirrels usually live in pairs or small groups. We do not know much about how they have babies. They are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Their diet includes fruits. They especially like the fleshy fruits of the umbrella tree. Their teeth and jaws look similar to another squirrel, Lord Derby's Anomalure. This suggests that the dwarf scaly-tailed squirrel might also eat tree bark.

Conservation Status: Are They Safe?

The tropical forests where these squirrels live are facing some threats. People cut down trees for timber. They also clear land to grow crops. However, these forests are less threatened than similar forests in western Africa. People also hunt these squirrels for food, but this does not seem to be a big problem for them.

Because of these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at this squirrel's situation. They have decided that its conservation status is "least concern." This means they are not currently worried about it becoming endangered.