Sherman's fox squirrel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sciurus
Species:
S. niger
Subspecies:
S. n. shermani
Trinomial name
Sciurus niger shermani
Moore, 1956

Sherman's fox squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani) is a subspecies of the fox squirrel. It lives in the U.S. states of Florida and Georgia in fire-prone areas of longleaf pine and wiregrass, especially around sandhills.[1] A tree squirrel, Sherman's fox squirrel has lost much of its habitat to farming and development.[1][2] This type of squirrel nests in oak trees using leaves and Spanish moss.[1]

Description

In comparison to other fox squirrels, this subspecies is large (23 - 28 in. = 600 – 700 mm) with highly variable dorsal fur color ranging from nearly all black (uncommon) to silver, with variations of black over silver and silver over black. The underside is tan, while the head is generally black; the ears and muzzle are often white. The tail is long, nearly the length of the head and torso.The Fox squirrel is generally found to be slightly larger than the more common Eastern Gray Squirrel, and slower in speed. This subspecies does not exhibit any sexual dimorphism between the males and females.

Diet

Their diet is consistent with that of most Fox Squirrels; with this subspecies’ diet mostly consisting of acorns of live oaks.[3] Their diet could also include mast, insects, tree buds, bulbs, roots, bird eggs, and more depending on seasonality.

Habitat

Most nesting occurs in winter seasons, usually within oak trees.[4] Males usually exhibit a larger habitat range due to breeding season travel.[5] Dwindling resources, and decreasing habitat availability is partly to blame for the recently increased home ranges.[5] They usually inhabit areas with a high concentration of longleaf pines, and show preference for areas with low woody cover.[6] This indicates that they thrive in environments featuring frequent disturbances, such as controlled burns.[6] This is a prevalent feature of properly conserved longleaf pine ecosystems.

A Sherman's fox squirrel in Central Florida

Taxonomy

As is stated in a 2017 report by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission: "New analysis in 2014 and 2015 determined that the Sherman’s fox squirrel is not genetically distinct from other fox squirrels in north and central Florida making it appropriate to group all fox squirrels north of the Caloosahatchee River as Southern fox squirrels (Sciurus niger niger)."[7][8] The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) specifically states that "The southern fox squirrel, previously classified as Sherman's fox squirrel, is a large rodent member of the Family Sciuridae."[9] A 2017 FWC report states, “they [S. n. niger and S. n. shermani] may still deserve recognition as separate management units, based on morphological variations.”[10]

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resource Division website states “The delineations between the ranges of the fox squirrel subspecies were originally determined by morphological measurements and pelage coloration.” They further clarify, “However, recent research has revealed no genetic structure in fox squirrels in North and Central Florida, indicating that S. n. niger, S. n. bachmani (Bachman’s fox squirrel), and S. n. shermani may not be genetically distinct subspecies. It is possible these subspecies should be identified and managed as a single subspecies, although they may still deserve recognition as separate management units, based on slight morphological variation. Another recent study found no evident genetic or ecological differences between S. n. niger and S. n. shermani in Georgia, though more investigation is needed to determine the validity of all subspecies of S. niger in Georgia and Florida.”[11]

Conservation

Sherman’s fox squirrels rely heavily on the longleaf pine savanna ecosystem that is found in southern Georgia and northern Florida, in which the ecosystem has been a hot topic within conservation research. These squirrels are seen as an obligate species of the longleaf pine.[12] Sherman's fox squirrel was once designated as a species of special concern in Florida but, due to their resiliency "to habitat modification"[10] and their wider distribution as part of S. n. niger, the status was dropped.[7][8] However, with the endemicity of this subspecies, it is important to consider their population growth rates in tandem with other conservation efforts within the Southeast U.S.. Additionally, with increasing climate change Sherman’s fox squirrels are at an immediate disadvantage.[13]

The other fox squirrel subspecies in Florida is the mangrove or Big Cypress fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia), which lives southwest of Lake Okeechobee.[1] This subspecies is also facing issues with habitat degradation in forested wetlands.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sherman's fox squirrel Sciurus niger shermani Field Guide to the Rare Animals of Florida, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 2001
  2. ↑ Sherman's fox squirrel — a rare sight in Central Florida; A rare Sherman's fox squirrel nibbles on a goodie in a field... by Sherry Boas, December 8, 2013, Sherry Boas Orlando Sentinel
  3. ↑ Kantola, A. T.; Humphrey, S. R. (1990-08-28). "Habitat Use by Sherman's Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani) in Florida". Journal of Mammalogy. 71 (3): 411–419. doi:10.2307/1381954. ISSN 1545-1542. JSTOR 1381954.
  4. ↑ Wassmer, Thomas; Refinetti, Roberto (2016-03-10). "Daily Activity and Nest Occupation Patterns of Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger) throughout the Year". PLOS ONE. 11 (3): e0151249. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151249. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 4786106. PMID 26963918.
  5. 1 2 Kantola, A. T.; Humphrey, S. R. (1990-08-28). "Habitat Use by Sherman's Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani) in Florida". Journal of Mammalogy. 71 (3): 411–419. doi:10.2307/1381954. ISSN 1545-1542. JSTOR 1381954.
  6. 1 2 Greene, Daniel U.; McCleery, Robert A. (2017-05-01). "Multi-scale responses of fox squirrels to land-use changes in Florida: Utilization mimics historic pine savannas". Forest Ecology and Management. 391: 42–51. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.02.001. ISSN 0378-1127.
  7. 1 2 "Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines, Southern Fox Squirrel" (PDF). Florida Department of State. April 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Greene, Daniel U. (2015). "Conservation of Fox Squirrel in Florida". University of Florida Digital Collections. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Southern Fox Squirrel (Scirurs niger niger)". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Sherman's Fox Squirrel Biological Status Review Report" (PDF). Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. October 27, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Sciurus niger shermani, Sherman Fox Squirrel". Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Biodiversity Portal. January 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. ↑ Perkins, Micah W.; Conner, L. Mike; Brent Howze, M. (2008-04-05). "The importance of hardwood trees in the longleaf pine forest ecosystem for Sherman's fox squirrels". Forest Ecology and Management. 255 (5): 1618–1625. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.11.020. ISSN 0378-1127.
  13. ↑ Hefty, Kira L.; Koprowski, John L. (December 2021). "Multiscale effects of habitat loss and degradation on occurrence and landscape connectivity of a threatened subspecies". Conservation Science and Practice. 3 (12). doi:10.1111/csp2.547. ISSN 2578-4854.
  14. ↑ Hefty, Kira L.; Koprowski, John L. (December 2021). "Multiscale effects of habitat loss and degradation on occurrence and landscape connectivity of a threatened subspecies". Conservation Science and Practice. 3 (12). doi:10.1111/csp2.547. ISSN 2578-4854.
A Sherman's fox squirrel in Central Florida
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