Callosciurus erythraeus (Pallas's squirrel)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- Introductions
- Risk of Introduction
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Climate
- Air Temperature
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Impact Summary
- Economic Impact
- Environmental Impact
- Threatened Species
- Social Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- Detection and Inspection
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- Prevention and Control
- References
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pageIdentity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Callosciurus erythraeus (Pallas, 1779)
Preferred Common Name
- Pallas's squirrel
Local Common Names
- China: belly-banded squirrel; red-bellied tree squirrel
- Japan: formosan squirrel; red-bellied tree squirrel
- Malaysia: mountain red-bellied squirrel
- Taiwan: belly-banded squirrel; formosan squirrel; red-bellied tree squirrel
- Thailand: belly-banded squirrel
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageC. erythraeus is a serious pest for agroforestry both in its original and its introduced range (Kuo, 1985; Torii, 1993). Population growth is rapid in introduced habitats without effective predators. This species was designated as an invasive alien species in Japan in 2005.
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Metazoa
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Rodentia
- Family: Sciuridae
- Genus: Callosciurus
- Species: Callosciurus erythraeus
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageGeographical variation in colour forms is considerable. C. erythraeus includes four subspecies groups: C. erythraeuserythraeus, C. erythraeus flavimanus, C. erythraeussladeni, C. erythraeusstyani, and insular forms of Taiwan and Hainan (Corbet and Hill, 1992). The species C. flavimanus and C. sladeni, identified by Moore and Tate (1965), are included in C. erythraeus (Corbet and Hill, 1992).
Description
Top of pageHead and body length: 200-260 mm. Tail length: 170-200 mm. Ear length: 19-24 mm. Hind foot length: 45-54 mm (Abe, 2005). Body weight: 309-435 g for adult males (Tamura and Terauchi, 1994). Geographical variation is considerable with different colour forms. The dorsum is usually olive-brown agouti. The venter colour varies from entirely agouti to maroon with a central agouti stripe, or without stripe in Taiwan and the introduced populations in Japan (Corbet and Hill, 1992).
Distribution
Top of pageIn Japan, introduced populations are naturalized in Izu-Oshima Island (Tokyo), the southeastern part of Kanagawa Prefecture, the western Izu Peninsula, Hamamatsu City (Shizuoka), Kinkazan (Gifu), Osaka-jo Park (Osaka), Himeyama Park (Hyogo), Tomogashima Island, Wakayama-jo Park (Wakayama), Fukue and Iki Islands (Nagasaki), and Takashima Island (Oita) (Tamura, 2002).
In Cap d’Antibes, France, and in Villa Flandria, Argentina, introduced squirrels were naturalized in the 1970s (Jouanin, 1986; Novillo and Ojeda, 2008). They were also naturalized in the Netherlands in 1998 (Dijkstra et al., 2009) and in Belgium in the 2000s (Stuyck et al., 2009).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 10 Jan 2020Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia |
|||||||
Bangladesh | Present | Native | |||||
Bhutan | Present | Native | |||||
Cambodia | Present | Native | |||||
China | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Anhui | Present | Native | |||||
-Fujian | Present | Native | |||||
-Guangdong | Present | Native | |||||
-Guangxi | Present | Native | |||||
-Guizhou | Present | Native | |||||
-Hainan | Present | Native | |||||
-Henan | Present | Native | |||||
-Hubei | Present | Native | |||||
-Hunan | Present | Native | |||||
-Jiangsu | Present | Native | |||||
-Jiangxi | Present | Native | |||||
-Shaanxi | Present | Native | |||||
-Shanghai | Present | Native | |||||
-Sichuan | Present | Native | |||||
-Tibet | Present | Native | |||||
-Yunnan | Present | Native | |||||
-Zhejiang | Present | Native | |||||
India | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Assam | Present | Native | |||||
-Sikkim | Present | Native | |||||
Japan | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Honshu | Present, Localized | Introduced | Invasive | First introduction in 1930s. Found on two small islands and in seven localities on Honshu; First reported: 1930s | |||
-Kyushu | Present, Localized | Introduced | Invasive | Found on three small islands and in one locaility on Kyushu | |||
Laos | Present | Native | |||||
Malaysia | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Peninsular Malaysia | Present | Native | |||||
Myanmar | Present | Native | |||||
Taiwan | Present | Native | |||||
Thailand | Present | Native | |||||
Vietnam | Present | Native | |||||
Europe |
|||||||
Belgium | Present, Localized | Introduced | Invasive | Introduced to the 'Dadipark' amusement park in the town of Dadizele; First reported: 2000s | |||
France | Present, Localized | Introduced | Invasive | Introduced to Cap d'Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes); First reported: 1970s | |||
Netherlands | Present, Localized | Introduced | 1998 | Invasive | Escaped from an animal trader near the town of Weert. | ||
South America |
|||||||
Argentina | Present, Localized | Introduced | 1973 | Invasive | Individuals reared on a ranch escaped and established in Villa Flandria, Buenos Aires |
Introductions
Top of pageIntroduced to | Introduced from | Year | Reason | Introduced by | Established in wild through | References | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Natural reproduction | Continuous restocking | |||||||
Argentina | Belgium | 1973 | Ornamental purposes (pathway cause) | Yes | Novillo and Ojeda (2008) | Introduced to Villa Flandria, Buenos Aires | ||
Belgium | 2000s | Ornamental purposes (pathway cause) | Yes | No | Stuyck et al. (2009) | Introduced at Dadizele. Ongoing eradication programme. | ||
France | early 1970s | Ornamental purposes (pathway cause) | Yes | No | Jouanin (1986) | Introduced to Cap d'Antibes. Control programme planned. | ||
Japan | Taiwan | 1930s | Botanical gardens and zoos (pathway cause) | Yes | Udagawa (1954) | They escaped from the zoo and became naturalised on Izu-Oshima Island | ||
Japan | Taiwan | 1950s | Botanical gardens and zoos (pathway cause) | Yes | Ono (2001) | Introuced to Kanagawa, Japan. Escaped from Enoshima Zoo in the 1950s and Nogeyama Zoo in the 1960s. Released pets were also included | ||
Japan | 1970s | Yes | Introduced to Shizuoka | |||||
Japan | 1936 | Botanical gardens and zoos (pathway cause) | Yes | Introduced to Gifu, Japan. In 1936, individuals reared for an exhibition escaped | ||||
Japan | 1970s | Intentional release (pathway cause) | Yes | Introduced to Osaka; established but rare | ||||
Japan | Japan | 1954 | Botanical gardens and zoos (pathway cause) | Yes | Setoguchi (1990) | In 1954, 100 squirrels were moved from Izu-Oshima Island to Tomogashima Island, Wakayama | ||
Japan | 1970s | Intentional release (pathway cause) | Yes | Introduced to Hyogo. 10 squirrels were released; small population established | ||||
Japan | 1986 | Yes | Introduced to Fukue Island, Nagasaki | |||||
Japan | 1999 | Botanical gardens and zoos (pathway cause) | Yes | Introduced to Iki Island, Nagasaki | ||||
Japan | 2008 | Yes | Introduced to Kumamoto. Small population established | |||||
Japan | 1955 | Introduced to Takashima Island | ||||||
Netherlands | 1998 | Pet trade (pathway cause) | Dijkstra et al. (2009) | Introduced near Weert. |
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageCallosciurus species are often traded in local markets in South-East Asia, the original range. Export and import of these species for ornamental uses and pet trades ought to be prohibited by law, because they easily escape from their cages.
Habitat
Top of pageC. erythraeus is found in various types of wooded habitat (natural forests, conifer plantations, orchards, bushes and city parks), but it prefers mixed species broad-leaved evergreen forests in Japan (Okubo et al., 2005) and France (Gerriet, 2009). Mean home range size is small, varying from 0.3 ha to 0.5 ha in females and from 1.4 ha to 2.2 ha in males (Tamura et al., 1989). In a woody area near Cap d’Antibes, France, the mean annual home range size determined by radiotracking varied from 3.2 ± 0.5 ha (n=7) for females to 8.1 ± 1.3 ha (n=6) for males (95% Fixed Kernel method: A. Dozières, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, unpublished). Home ranges overlap between individuals (Tamura et al., 1989; A. Dozières, unpublished).
Habitat List
Top of pageCategory | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terrestrial | ||||
Terrestrial | Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Managed forests, plantations and orchards | Secondary/tolerated habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Managed forests, plantations and orchards | Secondary/tolerated habitat | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Managed | Urban / peri-urban areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | Principal habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | Principal habitat | Natural |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Scrub / shrublands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Scrub / shrublands | Present, no further details | Natural |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageChromosomes: 2n=40 (Oshida and Yoshida, 1999).
Climate
Top of pageClimate | Status | Description | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
Af - Tropical rainforest climate | Tolerated | > 60mm precipitation per month | |
Am - Tropical monsoon climate | Tolerated | Tropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 - [total annual precipitation(mm}/25])) | |
As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer | Tolerated | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | |
Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate | Tolerated | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | |
Cf - Warm temperate climate, wet all year | Preferred | Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, wet all year | |
Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summer | Preferred | Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summers | |
Cw - Warm temperate climate with dry winter | Preferred | Warm temperate climate with dry winter (Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry winters) |
Natural enemies
Top of pageNotes on Natural Enemies
Top of pageParasites: C. erythraeus is parasitized in Japan by the flea Ceratophyllus anisus, the lice Enderleinellus kumadai and Neohaematopinus callosciuri, and the tick Haemaphysalis flava (Kano and Shinonaga, 1997; Shinozaki et al., 2004a, b; Tamura, 2009). Two parasitic helminths, Brevistriata callosciuri and Strongyloides sp., are also recorded in Japan (Matsudate et al., 2003). In France and Belgium, the macroparasite fauna is dominated by the sucking louse E. kumadai (in Belgium also by Hoplopleura erismata), and very few intestinal worms accidentally acquired from local fauna in both countries (Dozières et al., 2010).
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageC. erythraeus is mainly arboreal and often uses electric wires and hedgerows for locomotion in urban areas of Japan and in France. It is active in the early morning and evening in Taiwan (Chou et al., 1985).
Pathway Causes
Top of pageCause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Botanical gardens and zoos | Yes | Ono, 2001; Udagawa, 1954 | ||
Escape from confinement or garden escape | Yes | Jouanin, 1986; Jouanin, 1992 | ||
Ornamental purposes | Yes | Novillo and Ojeda, 2008 | ||
Pet trade | Yes | Dijkstra et al., 2009; Ono, 2001 |
Impact Summary
Top of pageCategory | Impact |
---|---|
Cultural/amenity | Positive and negative |
Economic/livelihood | Negative |
Environment (generally) | Negative |
Economic Impact
Top of pageOn Izu-Oshima Island, Japan, Camellia seeds, an important agricultural product, are severely damaged, and consequently many farmers gave up their production. Debarking in conifer plantations causes serious economic damage in Taiwan and Japan (Kuo, 1985; Torii, 1993); the damage rate was 80-90% in artificial forests of Chamaecyparis obtusa in Shizuoka and Nagasaki, Japan (Torii, 1993). Wooden shutter boxes and eaves are often damaged, and the squirrels make holes in them for their nests. Electric and telephone wires are cut.
Environmental Impact
Top of pageC. erythraeus in Japan causes severe debarking of trees in winter when short of other foods. Natural forests have suffered considerable damage when squirrel density has increased.
Impact on Biodiversity
Competition for food and nest sites is a concern. C. erythraeus is known to predate animal materials including bird eggs, insects, and snails (Tamura et al., 1989). The native Japanese squirrel species, Sciurus lis, is locally declining (Ministry of the Environment, Japan, 2002), as is probably the case in France for the European red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris ( A. Dozières, J.L. Chapuis, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, unpublished).
Threatened Species
Top of pageThreatened Species | Conservation Status | Where Threatened | Mechanism | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sciurus lis | National list(s) | Japan | Competition - monopolizing resources | Ministry of the Environment, 2002 | |
Sciurus vulgaris | LC (IUCN red list: Least concern) | France | Competition - monopolizing resources |
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Has a broad native range
- Abundant in its native range
- Highly adaptable to different environments
- Capable of securing and ingesting a wide range of food
- Gregarious
- Damaged ecosystem services
- Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
- Infrastructure damage
- Negatively impacts agriculture
- Negatively impacts cultural/traditional practices
- Negatively impacts forestry
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Threat to/ loss of native species
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Predation
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
- Difficult/costly to control
Uses
Top of pageC. erythraeus has often been used as an ornamental species and a tourist attraction. People enjoy contact with the squirrels, but they do not understand the problems caused by invasive species.
Detection and Inspection
Top of pageThe presence of C. erythraeus is indicated by: (1) its distinctive pattern of bark stripping; (2) its distinctive sound, like a dog barking (Tamura, 1995); and (3) direct sightings.
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pageIt is difficult to distinguish C. erythraeus from other species of the same genus; for example, some forms have the entire ventral pelage agouti as in C. caniceps, and some have a reddish brown dorsum as in some types of C. finlaysonii. None of the species in this genus have ear tufts at any season.
Prevention and Control
Top of pageDue to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
A programme is under way to eradicate the C. erythraeus population at Dadizele, Belgium (Stuyck et al., 2009).
References
Top of pageAbe H, 2005. A guide to the mammals of Japan. Kanagawa, Japan: Tokai University Press, 206 pp.
Ono M, 2001. The Formosan squirrel in Kamakura City. Nature in Kanagawa, 63:12-13.
Distribution References
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Contributors
Top of page22/07/09 Original text by:
Noriko Tamura, Tama Forest Science Garden833 Todori, Hachioji, Tokyo 198-0843, Japan
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