The pigmy squirrels of the Nannosciurus melanotis group

Vol. XIX, ^pp. 51-56

May 1,1906

PROCEEDINGS

OFTHE

BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON

THE PIGMY SQUIRRELS OF THE NANNOSCIURUS MELANOTIS GROUP. \^

BY MARCUS W. LYON,

^JR.

Bypermission^oftheSecretary oftheSmithsonianInstitution.

The

material

on

whiclithis

paper

^is

based comprises twenty- nine

skins

with

skulls in the collection ofthe

United

States

Na-

tional INIuseum, three

from _Java,

eleven

from western Borneo, one from Sumatra,

^three

from Sinkep and

eleven

from Banka.

All

except

^those

from Java were

collected

by ^Dr. W.

L.

Abbott, and made _up

as

dry

skins in the field.

The Javan specimens were obtained from Wilhelm

Schliiter,

Halle

a. S.

They ^were

sent to

him from Java

in

a preser\dng

fluid,

but were taken out and

dried

immediately on reaching

^his

establishment.

I

have

also

had

at

my

^disposal

^manuscript

^notes

^on

the originalspeci-

mens

of

Nannosciurus

melanotls in the

Leyden Museum made _by Mr.

^GerritS. Miller, Jr.

Two

species

have

hitherto

been

recognized, melanotis ^* re-

corded from _Java, Sumatra and Borneo, and

_pidcher

known

only from _Sinkep. The Svimatran and Bornean animals

are

here

described as ^distinct as well as

the one from Banka.

Key

^tothespeciesof

Pigmy

SquirrelsoftheNannosciurusmelanotisgroup.

a.

Nape

slightlygrayerthan crown,

no

distinctpatch, ^melanotis.

a^.

Nape

^withdistinctwhitish patch.

b. Yellowish brown,upperpartsfinely

and

evenly grizzled with black,

c. Upperparts most

Uke

_Ridgway's Isabellacolorwith black_griz-

zHng. borneanus.

(}. Upperparts most ^like Ridgway's

tawny

^{olive with black}griz-

zling, bancanus.

*Hererestricted totheJavanform. Therewere two_specimensfromJavainthe original seriesandone each fromBorneo andSumatra. Mr.Millerthinks the_descrip.

tionwasbasedmainly^{on the}Javan_specimens.

11—Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash.,^Vol.. XIX, ^1906. (51)

52

_Liion

—

Pigmy

Squirrels of

Nannosciurus

melanotis

Group.

b^ Yellowish

brown

_upperpartsirregularly grizzledwithblack.

d. Size larger,gnathion ^to occipito-sphenoid suture

more

than

16

mm.

_pulcher.

d'. Size smaller, gnathion ^to occipito-sphenoid suture about

15

mm.

sumatranus.

Nannosciurus

melanotis _(Miiller

and

_Schlegel).

1839-44.

Scmms

mdaiiotis Miiller

and

_Schlegel, Verhandel.overdeNat- uurlijke Geschiedenes der Nederl. overzeesche Bezittingen, p.98, ^PI.

XIV,

fig^5.

Colypes.

—

In the

Leyden Museum,

four specimens, one from Padang, westernSumatra($ ^a. No.1. 1887),one from Borneo(cJ* No.3c),

and

two fromJava

(9 h.No. 8

and

_g.,

no

_sex,No._7).

The name

melanotisishere restricted totheJavananimal, sincemostoftheoriginal series

came

from Java,

and

the greater part of the description^isbased on them.

Characters.

—

Distinctnapepatch wanting,nape merelygrayerthan crown.

Generalcolordarkestof the group.

Color—

Based

on

Nos. 121,494-121,496U.S.N.

M. Upper

^surfaceofhead

and

_body, outer surfaces of _legs

and

sides a color intermediate between Ridgway's ^hazel andchestnut _finely

and

_{evenlygrizzled}witli black.

A

small areaontlienape^islighter

and

similartowood-brown. Hairs of the underpartsblackish-slate at base,tippedwithadarkvinaceousbuff.

Upper

surface of feetsimilar in color to hack. Postauricular spot black, con- spicuous,extending from^5-7

mm.

behindtheear. Outersideof ear black, innerside similarto back. Light head _stripe vinaceous bufftowhitish about1.5

mm.

wideinfront

and

abouttwiceaswide undertheear.

Ring

over the eye ^{.same color as} head stripe, about 1

mm.

wide. Preorbital stripe black,about 1

mm.

wide. Hairs oftail(except^attip) ringed^asfol- lows: Hazel,blackish, rich hazel, black, lightvinaceous buff,

and

incon- spicuous blacktip. At_tipoftail thehairsare longer

and

afterthesecond hazel ring are blackishbrown.

Skullandteeth.

—

These

show no

characters

by which

^todistinguish

Nan-

nosciurusmel"not)s fromotherrelated species exceptN._jndclier

which

has aslightly larger skull.

Measurements.

— The

hind feetwith claws inthe threespecimens meas- ure 22.2,22.5, 22.7

mm.;

gnathion ^to occipito-sphenoid suture, 15.5

mm.;

greatestbreadthofskull, 15.9-16.5; interorbital constriction,9.5-10

mm.

Specimensexamined.^Three fromnear Batavia,

Java—

one_male,onefe-

male

and

oneaf

unknown

sex.

Remarks.

— The

abovethree skinsdiffer intheirred

brown

colorfromall the otherspecimens^ofthisgroup,fromthe_figurepublishedwiththeorig- inaldescription and,judging from Mr. ^{Miller'snotes} ontheoriginal series inLeyden, from^thecotypes. It^istobenoted that the cotypes are

mounted

and have

beenexhibited^forover half a century,

and

that the three_speci-

mens

inthe National

Museum

have beenina preserving^{fluid. Itis}pos- siblethat

when more

_specimens are secured fromJava

two

formswill be found to occur onthat island.

The

above three specimens, the cotypes,

and

theoriginal figure^allagreeⁱⁿtheabsenceofawelldefinednapepatch

Lyon — _Pigmy

Squirrels of

Nannosciuras

melanotis

Group. 53 Nannosciurus

pulcher ^Miller.

1902. N<ninof;clunis pulcher Miller, Proc. Acad. Nat. _Sci., Philadelphia, March, 1902, p.154. Issued

June

11,1902.

Tiipe.

—

Adult female, skin

and

_skull,No._113,131,UnitedStatesNational

Museum,

from SiukepIsland,south

China

Sea.

Chararler.'i.—A large

member

ofthe viclonofis group^{with well defined} napepatch, the yellow-brown

body

^notdistinctly grizzled. Gnathion to occipito-sphenoid ^sutiu'e

more

than 16

mm.

Color.

—

_Upperparts

and

sidesof

body and

outer side of_{legs like}a_light Isabella colorof

Ridgway

tinged witholive,orlikea paleraw umber,^with an unevenspeckling of^black.

Top

^ofhead darker_incliningtoadull dark

tawny

ochraceous. Hairs of underparts with ^{blackish slate bases}

and

ochraceons buff_tips.

Hind

feet indistinct, dulltawny; fore feet likeback.

The

lightcolored head_stripe isdistinctlytinged with _yellowin the type, in No._123,098with pinkish buif,

and

inNo.123,099 ^isnearly^clearwhite.

The

_stripe isabout 2

mm.

wide in front

and

3-5

mm.

undertheear. In thetype^thereisscarcely

any

^indicationofa supraorbitallialfring^; inthe othertwo specimens ^{thereis adull} pinkish-buff^line about ¹

mm.

wide.

Nape

patch whitish tinged with yellowishⁱⁿthe_type,withvinaceousbufl' inNo. _123,098. External surfaceofears black, internal similar to back.

Postauricular spot black, notso large as in melanotis,extending ^2-3

mm.

behindear. Preorl)ital stripeblackish, 1-2

mm.

wide. Hairs oftail ringed as follows: dull ochraceous, blackisli, tawny-ochraceous, black, white, black.

At

thetip ofthetail after thesecond

tawny

ring the ^restofthe hairisblack.

Skull.

— The

skullisalittlelargerthanthatof the other

members

ofthis group, gnathion ^to occipito-sphenoid suture about 16.5

mm.

instead of 15-15.5 intheotiier species.

Measurements.

— Head and

_body,85-95; tailvertebrae, 70-77; hindfoot withclaws, 23.3-23.7. Skull: Gnathionto occipito-sphenoidsuture, 16.4- 16.7; greatestbreadth, 16.7-17.2^; interorbital constriction, 10-11.5.

Specimens examined.

—

Three

— _two

_males

_and

one female_; allfrom Sinkep Island.

Remarks.

—

Nannosciurus _pulcherismost like the Sumatra_animal,from

which

itdiffers

by

^itsslightly larger skull

and

_{slightlybrighter}color. It isconspicuously ^different from N.melanotis initsyellow

brown

insteadof red

brown

color

and

in itsdistinctnapepatch.

Nannosciurus sumatranus

_sp.nov.

Type.

—

Adult_{male, skin}

and

skull,No. _141,058,United States National

Museum.

CollectedatTarussan Bay, western Sumatra, Januaiy 16,1905,

by

^{Dr.AV. L.Abbott.} Original

number

3946.

Characters.

— _Very

similarto Nannosciurus pulcherMiller,from

which

it differs in its smaller size

and

less bright coloration of the upperparts;

gnathion^tooccipito-sphenoid suture 15-15.5

mm.

instead of 16-16.5

mm.

Color.

— _Type

: Generalcolorof upperpartsmostlikeRidgway's ^Isabella

54 Lyon — _Pigmy

Squirrels of

Nannosciurus

melanotis _Groiq).

color, irregularlylinedwith blackish.

Top

^ofheaddullochraceous, lined with black. Feetdullochraceous. Hairs of underpartsslaty at base, dull ochraceous buffatends. Light head stripewhitish tinged with buffy, 2

mm.

wide in front

and

5

mm.

wide underear. Preorbital stripe black 1.5-2

mm.

wide. Supraorbital halfring not distinct,about 1

mm.

or less wide,^dullochraceousbuff. Externalsurfaceofears black, internalsurface similartotop of head. Postauricular spotblack,not_large,extending^1-2

mm.

behind ear.

Nape

patch well defined,light cream to pinkish ^buff.

Hairs oftailringed ^asfollows: Dull ochraceous, blackish,dullochraceous, black, white,^black.

At

tip oftail,after the second ochraceous_ring,the hairsareuniformly^black.

Skull.

— The

skull of N. sumalranus

shows

no appreciable differences fromthatof related speciesexcept N.pulclier whichisslightly larger.

Measuremeiit!<.

—

_Type:

_{Head and}

_body,83; tailvertebrae, 72; hindfoot withclaws,^23.8. Skull^: Gnathiontooccipito-sphenoid suture, 15; great- estwidth,^15.8;interorbital constriction, 9.6;maxillarytoothrow(alveoli), 4.

Specimens examined.

—

_One,thetype.

Remarks.

—

Thisisthe

Sumatran

representative of the group.

The

_single specimenagrees closely with Mr. Miller's notes

on

the

Padang

specimen inthe

Leyden Museum.

^{Itdiffersfromthe}

Javan

_specimensinhaving^a conspicuousnape patch,wide head _stripeunder theear,

and

small _post- auricularspot, as well as in^itsgeneralyellow

brown

insteadof red

brown

coloration.

Nannosciurus borneanus

_sp.nov.

Type.

—

Adultfemale, skin

and

skull,No. _142,271,UnitedStatesNational

Museum.

Collectedin Sanggan, western Borneo, August23, 1905,

by

^Dr.

W.

L. Abbott. Original

number

4368.

Characters.

— _A

_yellow

brown member

ofthe group, withdistinctly griz- zledback,

and

well marked, lightcolored nape patch,which, however,^is not_{so light}nordistinctasit isinN^annosciurus pulcher or sumatraims.

Color.

—

Type: Upperparts

and

sides of

body and

^{outer sidesof}legsa fine distinct, even _grizzle ofa _light Isabella colortinged witholive,

and

black.

Top

^ofheadagrizzleof dull ochraceous

and

black.

Hind

feet a dull hazel; forefeetsimilar to back. Base of hairs of underparts ^slate color; ends dull ochraceous buff.

Head

stripe, whitish,slightly tinged withbuffy,nearly²

mm.

widein front

and

5-7

mm.

wide undertheear.

Preorbital_stripenarrow,about 1

mm.

wide, blackish,speckedwith ochra- ceous. Supraorbital halfring not^well marked,¹

mm.

or _less,dull ochra- ceous. Internal surface ofearssimilartotop of head. Externalsurface ofears black. Postauricular spot black, extending ^4-5

mm.

behind ear.

Nape

patch^welldefined,dirtywhite,grayishposteriorly. Hairs oftailringed thus^: dull ochraceous, blackish ochraceous, black,white, black.

At

_tip oftail,afterthesecondochraceous_ring,thehairsareblackto theirends.

Skull.

—

Therearenoconstant characters

by which

^{the skull ofNannos-} ciurus borneanuscan betoldwith certainty fromthatofother

members

of the_group,exce^itpulcher

which

has a_slightlylarger skull.

Lyon — _Pigmy

Squirrels of

Nannosciwus

melanotis

Group. 55

Measurements.

— _Type

:

Head

_{and body,}86 _(75-00);

* tail vertebrae, 65 (64-70); hind footwith claws, 22.6 (22-23.9). Skull of type: Greatest length, 25.3; basal length, 20; ^basilar length, 19.2; palatal length, 12.1;

greatest breadth, ^16.8 (14.9-16.8); gnathion ^to occipito-sphenoidsuture, 15.6(14.7-15.6); interorhital constriction, 10.6^; greatestbreadth of brain- case, 14; nasals (median edge), 11; maxillary toothrow (alveoli), 3.8;

mandible_(condyleto front of sym{)hysis),14; mandibular toothrow _(al-

veoli), 3.6.

Specimens examined.

— Ten

males

and

one_female,allfrom western Borneo, near thecoast.

Remarks.

— _The

type specimenrepresents the ^seriesvery ^well; afewof thespecimens^are

more

ochraceous in the underparts

and some have

ir-

regular tinges of buffy ^orvinaceous buffy ⁱⁿ thenape patch ^or on _the posteriorpart of thelight

head

stripe,butneverso

much

as inthe

Pigmy

Squirrel from Banka. Nannosciurus borneanus ^is _easily distinguishable from xV.pulcfwr

and

samatranus

by

^itsconspicuous ^fine grizzle,

and

from melanotis

and

bancanus

by

^its lighter color

and

clear

and

distinct nape patch.

Nannosciurus bancanus

_sp.nov.

Ty;i^.—Skin

and

skull ofadult female, No. 124,880, United States Na- tional

Museum.

CollectedatKlabat Bay,^{Island of}Banka,^eastofSumatra,

June

24, 1904,

by

^Dr.

W.

L.Abbott. Original

number

3430.

Cliararters.

—

_{Most like} Nannosciurus _borneanus,from whichit differs in itsgenerallydarkercolor,

more

obscurednape patch

and

_buffyface stripes.

Color.

— _Type

: Upperparts

and

sidesofbody,

and

outersurfaces of _legs, a fine grizzleofacolor between Ridgway's tawny-olive

and raw

_umber,

and

black, theformercolorin excess.

Top

^ofheaddull

tawny

^ochraceous

grizzledwith black. Underparts, including inner ^side of_legs,with the hairs slaty at base,

and

ochraceousbufffortherestoftheir length. Fore- feet similar to back_; hairsof hind feet dull tawny. Light ^facestripe,

about 1

mm.

wideatnostril, 5

mm.

wide beneath_ear, generally buffy ⁱⁿ color; forthefirst2or 3

mm.

_justbehindnostrilitisochraceous buff

and

underthe earitinclines towardvinaceousbuff. Preorbital _stripenarrow, black,

and

_{slightlysprinkled}with tawny. Supraorbicular halfring incon- spicuous,^dullochraceous buff,scarcely ¹

mm.

wide. External surfaceof earsblack; postauricular spot black^;extending about ⁴

mm.

behindear.

Internal surface of ear similartotop of head.

Nape

patchdistinctly pres- ent,butnotclear,a dark, ^dull pinkish ^{buff of}Ridgway,irregularly lined with blackish. Hairs oftailringed^asfollows: dull ochraceous, blackish, ochraceous, black, white, black.

At

_tip of tail the hairs are uniformly blackishafterthesecond ochraceousring.

Skull.

— _The

_skullofNannosciurus bancanusshows

no

characters

by which

itcan be distinguished from thatofother_species,exceptfrom N._pulcher which hasalarger skull.

*Figuresinparentheses^{arethose of}theextremesoftheseries.

56

Liion

— _Pigmy

Squirrels ofNannosciiirus melanotls

Group.

Measurements.

— _Type

:

Head and

_body, ⁸² (78-90); tail vertebrae, 63 (63-70); hind footwith_claws,22 _(22-23.6). Skull of type: Greatest length, 24.6; basal length, 18.8; basilar length, 17.6; palatallength,^10.8; greatest width,15.8 (15.7-16 4); interorbital constriction, 10.1; greatest breadthof braincase,^13.7; gnathiontooccipito-sphenoidsuture, 15 (14.8-15.6)^;

max-

illary toothrow _(alveoli),3.7

; mandible, condyle ^{to front of}symphysis, 13.5; mandibular toothrow_(alveoli), 4.

Specimens examined.

—

Eight males

and two

_females,from Klabat Bay,

Banka;

one male fromPointTedong, Banka.

Re)narks.

— None

ofthe series

show any

important ^deviation from the type specimen.

Two

or three individuals have the napepatch slightly lighter in colorthaninthe_type,inthisrespectbeingquite similar^tothose of theBorneanserieswith thedullnapepatches; butthe general^colorof the

body

^is always ^darker.

The

_RffinityofNaunosciurusbnncaniis toN.

boDieanus instead oftoN.sumatranusiscurious, as

Banka

isseparatedfrom Borneo

by

^a wide deepchannel,

Karimata

Strait,

and

from Sumatra

by

^a narrow

and

comparatively shallow^channel.

One

would _{expect the}rela- tionshiptobethereverse.