Mammals · Rodentia · Sciuridae

Red-bellied Squirrel

Sciurus aureogaster

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Mexican gray squirrel is the commonest tree squirrel in Mexico, found from montane pine and oak forest to warm rainforest and city parks. Its colouring is highly variable: grey, reddish and completely black individuals occur within a single population. It feeds on acorns, pine seeds, fruit and insects, and buries seeds that it does not always recover, contributing to forest regeneration. It has been introduced to Florida and to the Canary Islands.

Weight

350 g – 700 g

Size

24 cm – 33 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestTemperate forestMountainHerbivore Omnivore Diurnal Solitary Rainforest Temperate forest Mountain Mammal

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Fun facts

Its colour varies greatly within a single population: grey, reddish and black animals live side by side in the same wood, and melanism is especially frequent at higher altitudes.
It was introduced to Tenerife and La Gomera from Mexico, and there it is regarded as an invasive alien species with an impact on the islands' flora and birdlife.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Pine and oak forest, rainforest and urban parks of Mexico and Guatemala
Sexual maturity: 10 months
Gestation / incubation: 44 days
Litter / clutch size: 2

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/