Nannosciurus melanotis

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	SCIURIDAE

Scientific Name:	Nannosciurus melanotis
Species Authority:	(Müller, 1840)
Common Name/s: English – Black-eared Squirrel

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern     ver 3.1
Year Published:	2008
Assessor/s:	Francis, C., Gumal, M. & Han, K.H.
Reviewer/s:	Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Justification: This species is assessed as Least Concern because it is widespread, abundant in suitable habitat, and while it prefers primary forest, it appears to be tolerant of secondary and logged forest. Further studies are needed in order to assess its altitudinal range, as if it is a lowland species it merits listing as at least Near Threatened.
History:	1996 – Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found on Sumatra, Java, Borneo and adjacent islands. It is found up to about 1,070 m (Payne et al. 2005).
Countries:	Native: Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Jawa, Kalimantan, Sumatera); Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is a moderately common species in suitable habitat but it is difficult to trap (Han pers. comm.). It is known from only five specimens from Sarawak (Payne et al. 2005).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It prefers mature forest though it is also known to occur in secondary and selectively logged forest in the Malaysian part of Borneo (Han pers. comm.). It feeds on mosses, and is usually found on tree trunks (Han pers. comm.). This species is not easily trapped because it is not attracted to bananas or other fruit (Han pers. comm.).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):

It is threatened by habitat loss due to agricultural conversion and logging, though this is not a major threat (Han and Giman pers. comm.).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:

It occurs in several protected areas throughout its range, including Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarawak (Han pers. comm.).

Bibliography [top]

Heaney, L. R. 1985. Systematics of Oriental pygmy squirrels of the genera Exilisciurus and Nannosciurus (Mammalia: Sciuridae). Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 170: 1-58. Payne, J. and Francis, C. M. 2005. A field guide to the mammals of Borneo. Sabah Society, Malaysia.