Thomas's rope squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thomas's rope squirrel |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Genus: | Funisciurus |
| Species: |
F. anerythrus
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| Binomial name | |
| Funisciurus anerythrus (Thomas, 1890)
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| Subspecies | |
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The Thomas's rope squirrel, also known as the redless tree squirrel (Funisciurus anerythrus), is a type of rodent. It belongs to the Sciuridae family, which includes all squirrels. You can find this squirrel in parts of West and Central Africa. This includes countries like Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lives in warm, wet forests close to the ground. This squirrel is quite common. Experts say it is a "least concern" animal, meaning it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
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About the Thomas's Rope Squirrel
The Thomas's rope squirrel is a medium-sized squirrel. Its body, from head to tail base, is about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. Its bushy tail adds another 16 centimeters (6 inches).
What Does It Look Like?
Its fur on its back is a plain, brownish color. It has a single light brown stripe on its side. This stripe runs from its shoulder to its back legs. A dark brown line borders the stripe underneath. The squirrel's belly is whitish, dull gray, or sometimes orange. Its legs are a light brown color.
The hairs on its tail have reddish bases. They have dark middle parts and light tips. When the squirrel rests, its tail curls up close to its back. When it moves, it often holds its tail straight up. The tip of the tail usually curls backward.
Where Thomas's Rope Squirrels Live
This squirrel lives in tropical West and Central Africa. Its home range is split into two main areas. One group lives in Benin and Nigeria. The other group lives in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, northern Gabon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some scientists think these two groups might even be different species.
Their Forest Homes
Thomas's rope squirrels usually live in primary forests. These are old, untouched forests that are wet and low-lying. They also live in secondary forests, which are forests that have grown back after being cut down. You can also find them in gallery forests, which are forests along rivers.
They prefer very wet places. These include swamp forests with raffia palm trees. They also like areas that flood during certain seasons. Riverbanks and islands in rivers are common homes too. In Nigeria, they often live in thick bushes and vines in secondary forests. They can even climb partway up medium-sized trees.
How Thomas's Rope Squirrels Live
Thomas's rope squirrels look for food both on the ground and in trees. They mainly eat fruits and seeds. They also enjoy eating small bugs like ants and termites. Sometimes, they eat small amounts of green leaves and fungi.
Favorite Foods and Habits
The fruits of the raffia palm tree are a favorite food. They sometimes hide these fruits in cracks for later. Several squirrels might visit the same palm tree. They talk to each other using sounds or by stamping their feet. Often, two squirrels will move around together. They might rest side by side and even groom each other's fur.
Nests and Young
These squirrels build round nests from leaves. They line the inside with soft fibers. They build their nests in thick bushes or on tree branches. Sometimes, they build them on the central stem of palm leaves. These nests are often found hanging over water.
Thomas's rope squirrels can have babies at any time of the year. They usually have one or two young squirrels in each litter.
Protecting Thomas's Rope Squirrels
This squirrel lives across a large area. It is a common animal in the places it calls home. Scientists believe there are many of them in total. No major threats have been found that would put them in danger. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says its conservation status is "least concern". This means they are not worried about this squirrel becoming extinct anytime soon.
 | Aurelia Browder |
 | Nannie Helen Burroughs |
 | Michelle Alexander |
