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Amazon Dwarf Squirrel
Microsciurus flaviventer ssp
-2.15, -77.69
Field Notes
Description:
In honor of Squirrel Appreciation Day (January 21). I wanted to post pictures of one of the rarest squirrels I have seen. As some of you are already starting January 21, I am posting it now. This tiny adult squirrel is 5-6" long (12-15 cm) excluding the tail which is about the same length but is normally carried in typical squirrel fashion, curled above the body. The ground color is dark brown with light brown, black and silver hairs sparsely appearing on the top, sides and tail, while the underside is light brown to gray. There is a small white/yellowish spot behind each ear (foto #2).
Habitat:
Found in a tree cut down in the Amazon rainforest of SE Ecuador (700 masl).
Notes:
We had an animal rescue operation of sorts along with a snake exhibit I maintained for educational purposes. This pygmy squirrel was brought to me for snake food. I always accept such offerings, but then release them back into the wild. This was just too cute to feed to a snake even though I normally put snakes first.
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