Species of Thailand
Finlayson's squirrel
Binomial name: Callosciurus finlaysonii, Thomas Horsfield, 1823
Finlayson's squirrel or the variable squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii, sometimes misspelled C. finlaysoni) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The subspecies C. f. floweri, which is adapted to urban parks and gardens around Bangkok has been introduced in the Serangoon area of Singapore. There are also two introduced populations in Italy, probably a result of the species' popularity in the pet trade; both are thought to be of subspecies C. f. bocourti; it is possible that some of the Callosciurus squirrels introduced into Japan are also Finlayson's squirrels.
The pelage colour in this species is extremely variable; currently 16 subspecies are recognised, including C. f. ferrugineus which has been treated as a separate species. The subspecific name of C. f. boonsongi commemorates Thai zoologist and conservationist Dr. Boonsong Lekagul.
Like other squirrels of its genus (the "beautiful squirrels", Callosciurus), Finlayson's squirrel is normally a canopy-dweller, feeding mainly on fruit (Kitamura et al., (2002). Field evidence suggests that it has the usual form of dichromatic mammalian colour vision, which may enable it to discriminate ripe from unripe fruits (Tamura et al., 2015).
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Scientific classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Rodentia
- Family
- Sciuridae
- Genus
- Callosciurus
- Species
- Callosciurus finlaysonii
Common names
- English:
- Finlayson's squirrel
- Variable squirrel
Subspecies
Callosciurus finlaysonii albivexilli
Callosciurus finlaysonii annellatus
Callosciurus finlaysonii bocourti
Callosciurus finlaysonii boonsongi
Callosciurus finlaysonii cinnamomeus
Callosciurus finlaysonii ferrugineus
Callosciurus finlaysonii finlaysonii
Callosciurus finlaysonii folletti
Callosciurus finlaysonii frandseni
Callosciurus finlaysonii germaini
Callosciurus finlaysonii harmandi
Callosciurus finlaysonii menamicus
Callosciurus finlaysonii nox
Callosciurus finlaysonii sinistralis
Callosciurus finlaysonii trotteri
Callosciurus finlaysonii williamsoni
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN3.1)
Finlayson's squirrel
- Doi Phu Kha National Park
- Kaeng Krachan National Park
- Kham Thale So District, Nakhon Ratchasima
- Khao Kradong Forest Park
- Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khao Yai National Park
- Nam Nao National Park
- Pak Thong Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima
- Pang Sida National Park
- Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park
- Phu Kradueng National Park
- Sakaerat Environmental Research Station
- Sam Roi Yot District, Prachuap Khiri Khan
- Sung Noen District, Nakhon Ratchasima
- Tat Mok National Park
- Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
Range map of Callosciurus finlaysonii in Thailand
Important note; our range maps are based on limited data we have collected. The data is not necessarily accurate or complete.
Special thanks to Ton Smits, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Ian Dugdale and many others for their contribution for range data.
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