ກະຮອກທຳມະດາ ( Ecureuil terne, Einfarbiges Schénhérnchen, Inornate Squirrel)

Sciuridae

ກະຮອກທອງແດງ / Pallas's Squirrel
ກະຮອກຫາງລາຍ / Grey-bellied Squirrel
ກະຮອກຫລາຍສີ / Variable Squirrel

The head and body length of Callosciurus nornate ranges from 218 to 291 mm, with a tail length of 176 to 210 mm, and an approximate weight of 325 g. The tail displays a deep agouti (greyish) coloration and often ends with a black tip, while the ears and feet are dark grey. The ventral side of this squirrel is marked by a bluish grey to light violet-grey hue. Notably, this species is smaller in size compared to the sympatric Pallas's squirrel [4].

China (Yunnan), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Viet Nam
Global distribution between 2004 to 2023. Source: [4]

North Laos Highlands
Northern Mekong Corridor
Vientiane Plain

Old bush fallow
Evergreen forest

Native

Not invasive

Least concern

None

Food

Across much of this species’ range, there is a significant level of rural consumption of squirrels as food, exemplified by people in areas such as Lao PDR.

Wild

January
February
October
November
December

Threat: 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 a threat, although it is likely to reduce its densities. Similarly, habitat alteration is not a major threat; this species benefits from the shifting cultivation system and other forms of forest encroachment [6].

Sustainable: 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.

N/A

N/A

Nutrient	/100g	Remark
Proteins	N/A	N/A
Carbohydrates	N/A	N/A
Fats	N/A	N/A
Vitamins	N/A	N/A
Minerals	N/A	N/A
Fibers	N/A	N/A

Inornate squirrel in a tree.​ [1] NABU-Naturgucker [Online]. Uploaded on 25 November 2023 by: Meik Matiszik. Available: https://nabu-naturgucker.de/natur.dll/2ggPmKf8KTJA0kLmK8jGSTSt-gy/. [Accessed: 26 September 2024]
Inornate Squirrel from the side. [2] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 26 January 2023 by: llareta. Available: www.inaturalist.org/photos/255073128. [Accessed: 26 September 2024].
Inornate Squirrel from afar. [3] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded in November 2023 by: yexingcha. Available: www.inaturalist.org/photos/431509931. [Accessed: 26 September 2024]

[4] Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), “Global Biodiversity Information Facility”. [Online]. Available: https://www.gbif.org/search?q=Callosciurus%20inornatus%20(Gray,%201867). [Accessed: 17 July 2024].
[5] J. Duckworth et al., “Wildlife in Lao PDR”. Vientiane Capital, Laos: IUCN, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 1999.
[6] International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), “Inornate Squirrel (Callosciurus inornatus),” [Online]. Available: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3597/22254170. [Accessed: 17 July 2024].