{{short description|Species of mammal in the family Sciuridae}} {{Speciesbox | name = Brazilian squirrel | image = Caxinguele (Sciurus aestuans).jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Amori, G. |date=2016 |title=''Sciurus aestuans'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T20003A22248406 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T20003A22248406.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Sciurus | species = aestuans | authority = Linnaeus, 1766 | 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) aestuans|chapter-url=https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=12400081|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. a. aestuans'' * ''S. a. alphonsei'' * ''S. a. garbei'' * ''S. a. georgihernandezi'' * ''S. a. henseli'' * ''S. a. ingrami'' * ''S. a. macconnelli'' * ''S. a. poaiae'' * ''S. a. quelchii'' * ''S. a. venustus'' | range_map = Brazilian squirrel habitat map.png | range_map_caption = Brazilian squirrel's range }}
The '''Brazilian squirrel''' ('''''Sciurus aestuans'''''), or '''Guianan squirrel''', is a species of tree squirrel endemic to South America. It is found in south-eastern Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela.
==Description== Brazilian squirrels have primarily olive-gray fur with brown or yellow grizzling. The eye is surrounded by a pale yellow-brown ring, and a pale yellow postauricular patch is sometimes present. The belly is paler than the rest of the body, typically white, cream, buff, or pale yellow. The overside of the tail is the same color as the main body, while the underside is typically reddish and more variable.<ref name="Thorington2012">{{cite book |last1=Thorington |first1=Richard W. |last2=Koprowski |first2=John L. |last3=Steele |first3=Michael A. |last4=Whatton |first4=James F. |date=2012 |title=Squirrels of the World |chapter=''Sciurus aestuans'' (Linnaeus, 1766) Guianan Squirrel |url=https://archive.org/details/squirrelsofworld0000unse/mode/2up |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |page=39-40 |isbn=9781421404691 |access-date=4 Apr 2026}}</ref><ref name="Eisenberg2000">{{cite book |last1=Eisenberg |first1=John F. |last2=Redford |first2=Kent H. |date=2000 |title=Mammals of the Neotropics Volume 3 – The Central Neotropics – Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil |chapter=Chapter 13: Order Rodentia |url=https://archive.org/details/mammalsofneotrop0001eise/page/330/mode/2up |publisher=University of Chicago Press |page=331 |isbn=9780226195421 |access-date=4 Apr 2026}}</ref>
The typical head and body length is {{convert|160|-|186|mm|in}}, with the tail comprising another {{convert|162|-|250|mm|in}}. Body mass is typically {{convert|160|-|380|g|oz}}.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
==Distribution and habitat== The Brazilian squirrel inhabits forested regions through most of Brazil, alongside Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and parts of Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
Brazilian squirrels inhabit tropical rainforests, swamps and wet forests, and gallery forests. They can also be found in urban parks, gardens, and plantations.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
==Ecology and behavior== Brazilian squirrels are diurnal. They are active at all levels of the forest but tend to be most frequent in the understory level, between {{convert|5|-|12|m|ft}} above the ground.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
Brazilian squirrels are not strongly territorial, and there is considerable overlap between their foraging ranges. Male ranges tend to be around twice the size of females'.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
Brazilian squirrels feed primarily on palm nuts, alongside acorns and other tree and shrub seeds. Distinct handling behaviors are used for distinct palm species' fruit in order to access their endosperm; this behavior is learned as juveniles.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
Males track females by scent, culminating in several males chasing a female through the canopy to mate. Females have been observed pregnant in winter and summer, suggesting two distinct breeding seasons.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
Observed predators of Brazilian squirrels include ocelots, margays, and ''Cebus'' monkeys. When alarmed, Brazilian squirrels run into trees to hide, sometimes chattering an alarm call.<ref name="Thorington2012"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{S. Sciurinae1 nav}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q582376}}
Category:Sciurus Category:Rodents of Brazil Category:Mammals of Colombia Category:Mammals of French Guiana Category:Mammals of Guyana Category:Mammals of Suriname Category:Mammals of Venezuela Category:Mammals described in 1766 Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Squirrel-stub}}