Lady Burton's rope squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lady Burton's rope squirrel |
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| Conservation status | |
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Funisciurus
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| Species: |
isabella
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Sciurus isabella J. E. Gray, 1862 |
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The Lady Burton's rope squirrel (scientific name: Funisciurus isabella) is a type of rodent in the squirrel family. You can find this squirrel in parts of Africa, like Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Gabon. It lives in warm, wet places such as tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and mountain forests. This squirrel is quite common and lives in many areas. Because of this, experts say it is a species of "least concern", meaning it's not currently at risk of disappearing.
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How the Lady Burton's Rope Squirrel Got Its Name
Scientists first officially described the Lady Burton's rope squirrel in 1862. An English zoologist named John Edward Gray gave it its first name. He found the first example of this squirrel on Mount Cameroon. It was about 2,000 m (7,000 ft) above sea level.
Gray named it Sciurus isabella. The "isabella" part of the name honors Isabel Burton. She was the wife of a famous explorer, Sir Richard Burton. Later, scientists moved this squirrel into a different group, or genus, called Funisciurus. This gave it the name we use today: Funisciurus isabella.
What Does the Lady Burton's Rope Squirrel Look Like?
The Lady Burton's rope squirrel is a fairly small squirrel. Its body, from head to tail base, is about 154 mm (6 in) long. Its tail is also quite long, about 160 mm (6.3 in). Male squirrels are usually a bit bigger than females.
Its fur on its back is a mix of brown and black. Each hair has a black middle and a buff (light yellowish-brown) tip. It has two black stripes along each side of its body. One stripe goes from its ears to its tail. The second stripe runs from its shoulder to its back end. The fur between these stripes is a buffy-brown color. The fur on its belly is grayish. The hairs there have gray middles and white tips. Its tail has long hairs that are buff at the bottom, black in the middle, and frosted buff at the tips.
Another squirrel, the ribboned rope squirrel, looks similar. However, it has darker brown fur along its spine. It also has lighter, yellowish fur between its side stripes.
Where the Lady Burton's Rope Squirrel Lives
The Lady Burton's rope squirrel lives only in western Central Africa. Its home range includes southern Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. It also lives in Gabon, the southwestern Central African Republic, and the Republic of the Congo.
You can find these squirrels in both lowland and mountain forests. They prefer the lower parts of dense forests. This includes areas with lots of vines and climbing plants. They can also live in plantations and old gardens. However, they do not usually live in the very tops of tall trees.
How the Lady Burton's Rope Squirrel Lives
These squirrels often move around alone or in pairs. Sometimes, you might see them in small groups of three. They are quite noisy and make a special warbling sound when they sense danger. Because they spend a lot of time looking for food in thick plants, you might hear them before you see them.
They mostly eat fruits and seeds. They also munch on small amounts of green leaves. Sometimes, they eat small bugs like ants, termites, and caterpillars. They also enjoy eating fungi. Their nest is made from leaves and plant fibers, shaped like a ball. Usually, a mother squirrel will have only one baby at a time.
Conservation Status
The Lady Burton's rope squirrel lives in a wide area and is a common species. Scientists believe there are many of these squirrels in total. They also live in several protected areas. There are no major threats to this squirrel right now. People do hunt them for food, but this does not seem to harm the overall population. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says its conservation status is "least concern". This means it is not currently at risk of becoming extinct.
