View source for Microsciurus

{{Short description|Genus of rodents}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Microsciurus flaviventer - Amazon Dwarf Squirrel, Serra do Divisor National Park, Acre, Brazil.jpg
| image_caption = ''Microsciurus flaviventer''
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Microsciurus
| authority = [[Joel Asaph Allen|J. A. Allen]], 1895
| type_species = ''[[Microsciurus alfari|Sciurus alfari]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Joel Asaph Allen|J. A. Allen]], 1895
| subdivision = See text
}}

'''''Microsciurus'''''<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Sciuridae | id = 12400042 | pages = 757–758 | heading = Genus ''Microsciurus''}}</ref> or '''dwarf squirrels''' is a [[genus]] of [[squirrel]]s from the tropical regions of Central and South America.

==Taxonomy and systematics==
Recent [[DNA]] analysis has shown that there is some confusion regarding the traditional classification of the species in the genus ''Microsciurus'',<ref name="iucn">{{Cite iucn | author = Amori, G. | author2 = Koprowski, J. | author3 = Roth, L. | name-list-style = amp | title = ''Microsciurus santanderensis'' | volume = 2008 | page = e.T13412A3904007 | date = 2008 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T13412A3904007.en | access-date = 12 January 2018}}</ref> and that the genus may be [[polyphyly|polyphyletic]].<ref name="Pecnerova2012">{{cite journal | author = Pečnerová, P. | author2 = Martínková, N. | name-list-style = amp | date = February 2012 | title = Evolutionary history of tree squirrels (Rodentia, Sciurini) based on multilocus phylogeny reconstruction | journal = Zoologica Scripta | volume = 41 | issue = 3 | pages = 211–219 | doi = 10.1111/j.1463-6409.2011.00528.x| s2cid = 86487063 }}</ref> Currently, there are four [[species]] recognized:

*[[Central American dwarf squirrel]] (''Microsciurus alfari'') <small>[[Joel Asaph Allen|Allen]], 1895</small>, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, northern Colombia
*[[Amazon dwarf squirrel]] (''Microsciurus flaviventer'') <small>[[John Edward Gray|Gray, 1867]]</small>, western [[Amazon basin]]
*[[Western dwarf squirrel]] (''Microsciurus mimulus'') <small>[[Oldfield Thomas|Thomas]], 1898</small>, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama
*[[Santander dwarf squirrel]] (''Microsciurus santanderensis'') <small>Hernández-Camacho, 1957</small>, central Colombia

A 2020 paper published on the taxonomy of '''[[Sciurinae]]''' split ''Microsciurus'' into three genera, one currently unnamed. The paper included genetic sampling from all species except [[Santander dwarf squirrel]] and ''[[(Microsciurus) simonsi]]''. It suggests several new species, not all described.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1186/s12862-020-01639-y|title = Museomics of tree squirrels: A dense taxon sampling of mitogenomes reveals hidden diversity, phenotypic convergence, and the need of a taxonomic overhaul|year = 2020|last1 = De Abreu-Jr|first1 = Edson Fiedler|last2 = Pavan|first2 = Silvia E.|last3 = Tsuchiya|first3 = Mirian T. N.|last4 = Wilson|first4 = Don E.|last5 = Percequillo|first5 = Alexandre R.|last6 = Maldonado|first6 = Jesús E.|journal = BMC Evolutionary Biology|volume = 20|issue = 1|page = 77|pmid = 32590930|pmc = 7320592 | doi-access=free | bibcode=2020BMCEE..20...77D }}</ref>
*'''''Microsciurus'''''
**[[Central American dwarf squirrel]], ''M. alfari''
**''Microsciurus "species 1"'' from Colombia
*'''''Leptosciurus'''''
**[[Western dwarf squirrel]], ''L. mimulus''
**[[Andean squirrel]], ''L. pucheranii'' (moved from ''[[Sciurus]]'')
**''[[Leptosciurus similis]]''
**''[[Leptosciurus otinus]]''
**''[[Leptosciurnus boquetensis]]''
**''[[Leptosciurus isthmius]]''
*'''''"Microsciurus"'''''
**[[Amazon dwarf squirrel]], ''"M." flaviventer''
**[["Microsciurus" sabanillae]]
**''"Microsciurus" "species 2"'' from Peru and Brazil (previously assigned to ''[[Syntheosciurus]]'')

==Description==
With a typical head-and-body length of about {{cvt|15|cm|in}} and a {{cvt|12|cm|in}} long tail, dwarf squirrels are relatively small. However, the [[Neotropical pygmy squirrel]], not in this genus, is much smaller than these species, as are certain squirrels in Africa and Asia. ''Microsciurus'' species have gray or brown backs, and white bellies.

==Distribution and habitat==
All dwarf squirrels in this genus live in [[tropical rain forest]]s. Estimates of their abundance are limited.<ref name=Jessen2016>{{cite journal | author = Jessen, T.G. | display-authors = etal | date = August 2016 | title =  ''Microsciurus flaviventer'' (Rodentia: Sciuridae) | journal = Mammalian Species | volume = 48 | issue = 935 | pages = 59–65 | doi = 10.1093/mspecies/sew006| doi-access = free }}</ref> The IUCN lists the conservation status as "Least Concern" for three of the species and "Data Deficient" for ''[[Microsciurus santanderensis]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/en|website=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Ronald M. Nowak: ''Walker's Mammals of the World''. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 {{ISBN|0-8018-5789-9}}

{{S. Sciurinae1 nav}}
{{Sciuromorpha|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q948353}}

[[Category:Microsciurus| ]]
[[Category:Rodent genera]]
[[Category:Rodents of Central America]]
[[Category:Mammals of South America]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Joel Asaph Allen]]