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Collie's squirrel (''Sciurus colliaei'') is a
tree squirrel Tree squirrels are the members of the squirrel Family (biology), family (Sciuridae) commonly just referred to as "squirrels". They include more than 100 arboreal species native to all continents except Antarctica and Oceania. They do not form a ...
in the genus ''
Sciurus The genus ''Sciurus'' ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, Temperate zone, temperate Asia, Central America and South America. Species The number of species in the genus is subject to change. In 200 ...
''
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to Mexico.


Distribution

The Collie's squirrel is native to the western coast of Mexico, including the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Colima. The species inhabits areas of thick tropical and subtropical vegetation, especially in Jalisco. It is also known to occupy subtropical canyons in the northern part of its range.


Description

Sometimes referred to as a "gray squirrel" in Mexico, the Collie's squirrel is a medium-sized squirrel with a gray coat. The back (dorsum) is usually a darker gray with a yellowish wash down to the tail's base. The species sides are usually a light gray and the underside is typically white, although it can sometimes be a light orange color. The top of the tail, except for the base, is black with a wash of white. The underside of the tail is gray and the sides are white. Recorded measurements of the Collie's squirrel show that female specimens average 243.4 mm from head to the base of the tail, with a tail length of 260.4 mm. Males average 248.6 mm from head to the base of the tail, with a tail length of 243.2 mm. Females were recorded as weighing 440.8 g, while males averaged 335.2 g.


Behaviour

The Collie's squirrel lives chiefly in trees and is diurnal, most active just after sunrise and before sunset. They have been reported to nest on outer tree branches and within tree trunks' cavities, as well as abandoned termite nests. It is believed that the species breed in March and April.


Diet

Collie's squirrels have a specialized diet of the fruits and nuts of palms, figs, and possibly oaks.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1769125 Endemic mammals of Mexico Sciurus Mammals described in 1839 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Sinaloan dry forests Taxa named by John Richardson (naturalist)