{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{Speciesbox | name = Andean squirrel | image = Andean Squirrel Cartagena Colombia - 12-23-15.JPG | status = DD | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Amori, G. |author2=Koprowski, J. |author3=Roth, L. |date=2019 |title=''Sciurus pucheranii'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T20018A22246662 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T20018A22246662.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Sciurus | species = pucheranii | authority = (Fitzinger, 1867) | subdivision_ranks = Subspecies | subdivision_ref = <ref name="Thorington">{{cite book|last1=Thorington|first1=R.W. Jr.|last2=Hoffmann|first2=R.S.|year=2005|pages=754–818|editor1-last=Wilson|editor1-first=D.E.|editor2-last=Reeder|editor2-first=D.M|url=http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3|chapter=Sciurus (Guerlinguetus) pucheranii|chapter-url=https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=12400191|title=Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference|edition=3rd|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|isbn=0-8018-8221-4|oclc=26158608}}</ref> | subdivision = * ''S. p. pucheranii'' * ''S. p. caucensis'' * ''S. p. medellinensis'' | synonyms = ''Microsciurus pucherani'' | range_map = Andean squirrel habitat map.png | range_map_caption = Andean's squirrel's range }}
The '''Andean squirrel''' ('''''Sciurus pucheranii''''') is a tree squirrel endemic to Colombia where it inhabits montane rain forest and cloud forests of the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central ranges of the Colombian Andes, at elevations between {{convert|2000|and|3300|m}}. It is a small species with a body length of about {{convert|14|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} and a similar length tail. It has soft, silky, reddish-brown fur, a darker tail and yellowish-grey underparts. It is thought to be diurnal but has been little studied, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being data deficient.
==Description== The Andean squirrel is a typical tree squirrel, in its general proportions resembling the Eastern grey squirrel of North America. However, it is much smaller, with a body length of only about {{convert|14|cm}}, and a {{convert|12|to|16|cm}} tail. Although there are few records of its weight, it appears to be generally between about {{convert|100|and|140|g}}. It has soft, silky, reddish-brown fur over most of the body, merging to greyish-yellow on the underparts. The tail fur is darker than that on the body, and some Andean squirrels also have a distinctive dark stripe down their flanks, and/or a black patch on the back of the head. Females have six teats.<ref name=Leonard2009>{{cite journal | author = Leonard, K.M. | year = 2009 | title = ''Sciurus pucheranii'' (Rodentia: Sciuridae) | journal = Mammalian Species | issue = 841 | pages = 1–4 | doi = 10.1644/841.1|display-authors=etal| doi-access = free }}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== It inhabits montane rain forest and cloud forests of the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes, at elevations between {{convert|2000|and|3300|m}}. As a tree squirrel, it lives among ''Cecropia'' trees, palms, and tree ferns. It is believed to be diurnal, but sufficiently little is known about its habits, population, and habitat requirements, that it is currently listed as data deficient by the IUCN.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /><ref name=Leonard2009/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Sciurus Category:Endemic fauna of Colombia Category:Mammals of Colombia Category:Mammals of the Andes squirrel, Andean Category:Mammals described in 1867 Category:Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot