Gambian Sun Squirrel
Heliosciurus gambianus
Silhouette: Joseph Smit · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusHeliosciurus (Sun Squirrels)
- SpeciesHeliosciurus gambianus (Gambian Sun Squirrel)
About the Gambian Sun Squirrel
The Gambian sun squirrel (Heliosciurus gambianus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is wooded savanna.
The Gambian sun squirrel was first described by the Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1835 as Sciurus gambianus. It was designated the type species of the genus Heliosciurus after the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature decided to suppress the use of Sciurus annulatus for this purpose in 1957. It is probably a species complex of several described species.
The Gambian sun squirrel has a head-and-body length of between 170 and 240 mm (6.7 and 9.4 in) and a tail of between 180 and 260 mm (7.1 and 10.2 in). Its weight ranges from 240 to 330 g (8.5 to 11.6 oz). The pelage is variably coloured but is usually greyish with a grizzled appearance. There is a paler grey ring around the eye, and the throat and underparts are also pale. The tail... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Gambian Sun Squirrel in Murchison Falls National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Murchison Falls National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niokolo-Koba National Park | 🇸🇳 Senegal | |
| 2 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda |