| Citation |
Duckworth, J.W. & Timmins, R.J. 2016. Callosciurus inornatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T3597A22254170. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3597A22254170.en. Downloaded on 25 June 2021. |
Description |
JUSTIFICATION
This species is listed as Least Concern because of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, tolerance to a large degree of habitat modification, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.
RANGE DESCRIPTION
This species occurs only east of the Mekong, in southern Yunnan province, China, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam (Moore and Tate 1965, Wang 2003, Timmins and Duckworth 2008). It occurs south to north-east Savannakhet province, Lao PDR (Duckworth et al. 2010). Smith and Xie (2008) wrongly mapped the species as occurring west of the River Mekong.
It occurs from Mekong plain level (160 m), potentially lower in Viet Nam although no explicit such record traced, to the highlands, at least to 2,000 m in both Lao PDR and Viet Nam (J. W. Duckworth pers. comm. 2016).
DESCRIPTION
This species is numerous in Viet Nam (R. J. Timmins and D. P. Lunde pers. comm. 2004) and Lao PDR (Timmins ans Duckworth 2008) and presumably in Yunnan.
HABITAT AND ECOLOGY
In Lao PDR, this species evidently occurs at higher densities in edge, secondary and heavily disturbed forest than in little-encroached forest, although it does also occur in the latter (Timmins and Duckworth 2008). It occurs in evergreen forest and semi-evergreen forests and the secondary habitats derived from them, being absent from deciduous areas (Timmins and Duckworth 2008).
THREATS
There are no major threats to this species. This species is hunted heavily in Lao PDR, but large populations persist close to villages in Phongsali province and other areas, making it clear that hunting is not threat, although it is likely to reduce densities locally (Timmins and Duckworth 2008). Similarly, habitat alteration is not a major threat: the species benefits from the shifting cultivation system and other forms of forest encroachment, although it cannot survive total deforestation (Timmins and Duckworth 2008).
USE AND TRADE
Almost throughout this species range, rural consumption of squirrels as food is high, e.g. in Lao PDR (Timmins and Duckworth 2008).
CONSERVATION ACTIONS
This species occurs in many protected areas in Lao PDR (Duckworth et al. 1999). It probably occurs in protected areas in China. It has been regionally Red Listed, in China, as Vulnerable A1cd; B1ab(iii) (Wang and Xie 2004). |
