Microsciurus

Microsciurus or dwarf squirrels is a genus of squirrels from the tropical regions of Central and South America.

Taxonomy and systematics

Recent DNA analysis has shown that there is some confusion regarding the traditional classification of the species in the genus Microsciurus, and that the genus may be polyphyletic. Currently, there are four species recognized:

Central American dwarf squirrel Allen, 1895, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, northern Colombia
Amazon dwarf squirrel Gray, 1867, western Amazon basin
Western dwarf squirrel Thomas, 1898, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama
Santander dwarf squirrel Hernández-Camacho, 1957, central Colombia

A 2020 paper published on the taxonomy of Sciurinae split Microsciurus into three genera, one currently unnamed. The paper included genetic sampling from all species except Santander dwarf squirrel and (Microsciurus) simonsi. It suggests several new species, not all described.

Microsciurus
*Central American dwarf squirrel, M. alfari
*Microsciurus "species 1" from Colombia
Leptosciurus
*Western dwarf squirrel, L. mimulus
*Andean squirrel, L. pucheranii
*Leptosciurus similis
*Leptosciurus otinus
*Leptosciurnus boquetensis
*Leptosciurus isthmius
"Microsciurus"
*Amazon dwarf squirrel, "M." flaviventer
*"Microsciurus" sabanillae
*"Microsciurus" "species 2" from Peru and Brazil

Description

With a typical head-and-body length of about and a long tail, dwarf squirrels are relatively small. However, the Neotropical pygmy squirrel, not in this genus, is much smaller than these species, as are certain squirrels in Africa and Asia. Microsciurus species have gray or brown backs, and white bellies.

Distribution and habitat

All dwarf squirrels in this genus live in tropical rain forests. Estimates of their abundance are limited. The IUCN lists the conservation status as "Least Concern" for three of the species and "Data Deficient" for Microsciurus santanderensis.