It was recognized as its own species just over two decades ago, after genetic and morphological studies revealed that what for years had been identified as a single species of short-tailed fruitful squirrels actually hid several distinct lineages spread across Mesoamerica. It lives in wet tropical jungle and transition forest from Mexico to Central America, occupying a very similar ecological role to that of its closest relatives as a seed dispersor of rapidly growing pioneering plants. Its almost total resemblance with other species of the same genre, with which it often shares shelter, makes its field identification practically impossible without capture and cranial examination, a common case among neotropic fruitful squirrels whose reality has only been revealed with the use of modern genetic tools.
Small-sized squirrels, gray brown fur, short fox with lance-shaped nasal leaf, and absence of external tail. Practically indistinguishable in the field from other species of the same gender with which it shares area and shelter, so its safe identification requires capture and cranial measures.
Tropical rainforest and transitional forest, from low lands to mid-mountains, distributed from Mexico to Central America.
Frugivorous, it feeds mainly on the fruit of piperaceas and other rapidly growing pioneering plants, complemented with nectar and occasional insect.
It forms variable-size colonies in coves and tree holes, often shared with other related species of the same genre.It is of nighttime activity, with short and repeated forage flights over the subwoofer.
Its populations are generally considered stable in most of its Mesoamerican distribution area.
Deforestation and fragmentation of the rainforest by agricultural and livestock expansion in its distribution area.
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