| Citation |
Koprowski, J. & Meijaard, E. 2016. Exilisciurus exilis (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T8437A115087769. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T8437A22244965.en. Downloaded on 03 July 2021. |
Description |
JUSTIFICATION
Listed as Data Deficient in view of continuing uncertainties as to its extent of occurrence, status and ecological requirements. It was until recently thought to be endemic to Borneo and restricted to lowland forest. However, a recent unpublished discovery revealed that the species also occurs on Sumatra, where the original type specimen was in fact collected. Whether or not the Sumatran taxon is a close-related but taxonomically distinct species remains to be investigated. On Borneo, the species’ lowland habitat is suffering heavy degradation and the effect on the species is not clear. Further studies are needed to assess its adaptability to oil palm plantations.
RANGE DESCRIPTION
This species is endemic to Borneo, although recent surveys suggest that the species range may extend beyond the island of Borneo to Sumatra (E. Meijaard pers. comm). It occurs also on Banggi island (Thorington and Hoffmann 2005).
DESCRIPTION
The abundance and population size of this species are not well known. It is perhaps Borneo’s most common squirrel at elevations below 1,000 m asl (Anwarali-Khan et al. 2008, Phillipps and Phillipps 2016).
HABITAT AND ECOLOGY
This diurnal species inhabits predominantly lowlands and lower hills, but has been found up to 1,700 m asl (Thorington et al. 2012). It forages along tree trunks for insects and bark (Thorington et al. 2012).
THREATS
This species is threatened by the massive habitat conversion of lowland and lower hill forest in Borneo. It is unclear whether the species can use replacement plantations (W. Duckworth et al. pers. comm).
CONSERVATION ACTIONS
It occurs in various protected areas but many of these may support only small populations as they may be above this species main altitudinal range (W. Duckworth et al. pers. comm). |
