| Citation |
Meijaard, E. 2016. Sundasciurus lowii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T21158A22249977. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T21158A22249977.en. Downloaded on 02 August 2021. |
Description |
JUSTIFICATION
This species is assessed as Least Concern because it is widespread and common in degraded and secondary habitats, and there are no major threats to this species.
RANGE DESCRIPTION
This species is found on Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand, Sumatra, and adjacent small islands. In Borneo it is found up to 1,400 m, but usually below 900 m (Payne et al. 2005).
DESCRIPTION
It is very common in suitable habitat (Han pers. comm.). This species was the most abundant of its genus found in a survey conducted by Saiful and Nordin (2004) in Peninsular Malaysia (Weng River sub-catchment), with a density of 13.00 ± 1.85 individuals/km2. In general, this species is found at low densities in unlogged forest in Malaysia; in Danum Valley, Sabah, Norhayati (2001) found 14.4 individuals/km2, while Zainuddin et al. (1996) found 1.28 individuals/km2 in Nanga Gaat, Sarawak.
HABITAT AND ECOLOGY
It prefers degraded and secondary forest habitats. Three researchers have recorded that it increases in number after shifting cultivation. This is a diurnal and arboreal species (Saiful and Nordin 2004). It has been suggested that one of the reasons for low densities of this species in Malaysian tropical rain forest is competition from the great variety of other arboreal vertebrates (such as birds, and especially primates) for food, especially fruits and leaves, which are among the food items preferred by squirrels (Saiful and Nordin 2004). It is occasionally found along river banks, as seen at Temerloh, Pahang (Han pers. comm.).
THREATS
There are no major threats to this species (Han pers. comm.).
CONSERVATION ACTIONS
It occurs in several protected areas across its range (Han pers. comm.). Saiful and Nordin (2004) state the need for further comparative study on this species abundance, density and distribution and its relationship to forest structure or habitat quality, spatially and temporally, in hill dipterocarp forest of Malaysia. |
