Pallas's Squirrel

activity

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but Pallas’s Squirrel is diurnal and arboreal.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Primary and secondary subtropical montane evergreen and broadleaved forests. In China, Pallas’s Squirrel is present in subalpine coniferous forests, or in a mix of conifer and broadleaf trees, at elevations above ¢. 3000 m; occursalso in tropical and subtropical forests at lower elevations. In far northern Laos, it is found in heavily degraded scrub landscapes with small degraded forest patches. It will occupy pine (Pinus, Pinaceae) plantations that are more than 16 years old if protected, but, in unprotected areas, not until plantations are 31 years old, apparently because human activities decrease important vegetation diversity on forest floor. In Peninsular Malaysia, Pallas’s Squirrel is described as being common in forests and woodlands in the hills. It was introduced to Tomogashima Island in Japan, where it prefers both broadleaved and coniferous evergreen trees. In Argentina, these introduced squirrels are reported in fruit plantations.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In Kamakura City, Japan, where they have been introduced and are now common, both males and females have overlapping home ranges, with fewer females overlapping with other females (2 - 3 in winter — spring, 1 - 6 in autumn-winter) than males overlapping with other males (12 - 6 in winter — spring, 8 - 7 in autumn-winter). Male home ranges were 2: 6 ha in the winter — spring season and 1 - 2 ha in the autumn-winter season. Female home ranges were 0 - 7 ha and 0 - 5 ha in the same two seasons.

Sciuridae

breeding

Breeding. Mating bouts start early in the morning and last for many hours. The most dominant male chases other males away and then breeds with the female, after which he guards the female for an average of 33 minutes by giving the post-copulatory call, causing nearby males and the female to adopt their immobile anti-predator response. The female subsequently mates with another male, mating 4 - 11 timesin all during her estrus. Although not specified in the study, the assumption is that these other males also give a post-copulatory call. Mating bouts occur throughout the year, and the average litter size at weaning is 1 - 4 individuals.

Sciuridae