Field Ecology of the Exotic Mexican Red-Bellied Squirrel in Florida

Sciurus aureogaster (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

“…S. aureogaster produces 2-4 young/litter (Ceballos and Galindo 1984), after a gestation period of about 44 days (Valdéz Alarcón andTéllez-Girón 2005, 2014). Litter size obtained in Florida nests was 1 (n = 3) or 2 (n = 1 -Schwartz 1952;Brown and McGuire 1975). In Michoacán, a potential litter of 3 (2 gray individuals and 1 melanistic) was observed when 3 juveniles exited a nest (Ramos-Lara and Cervantes 2011).…”

“…Sciurus aureogaster reproduces throughout the year, with food availability apparently limiting reproduction (Brown and McGuire 1975;Ceballos and Galindo 1984). In Michoacán, mating chases occurred on 20-28 December, 12 March, 11 April, 17-18 July, 17 August, and 16 October (Ramos-Lara and Cervantes 2011).…”

“…In Michoacán, mating chases occurred on 20-28 December, 12 March, 11 April, 17-18 July, 17 August, and 16 October (Ramos-Lara and Cervantes 2011). In the exotic population in Florida, mating chases were observed on 12 January and 24 May (Brown and McGuire 1975). Males with enlarged, scrotal testes were common (70-90% of adult males) throughout the year in Florida (Schwartz 1952;Brown and McGuire 1975).…”

“…In the exotic population in Florida, mating chases were observed on 12 January and 24 May (Brown and McGuire 1975). Males with enlarged, scrotal testes were common (70-90% of adult males) throughout the year in Florida (Schwartz 1952;Brown and McGuire 1975). A male with scrotal testes was collected in Veracruz on 9 January (Hall and Dalquest 1963), whereas in Michoacán 1 male was observed on 18 January and 3 males were collected between 30 April and 2 May, all with fully scrotal testes (RamosLara and Cervantes 2011).…”

“…In Michoacán, a potential litter of 3 (2 gray individuals and 1 melanistic) was observed when 3 juveniles exited a nest (Ramos-Lara and Cervantes 2011). Lactation was observed throughout the year in Florida; the percentage of lactating females ranged from 12.5% in November to 50.1% in February (Brown and McGuire 1975). Lactating females in Michoacán were observed on 28 December and 15-19 January, whereas 1 lactating and 1 post-lactating females were collected between 30 April and 2 May (Ramos-Lara and Cervantes 2011).…”