SCIURUS RUBIDIVENTRIS sp. nov.
1894. Sciurus notatus Thomas and Hartert, Novitates Zoologicæ, I, p. 659. September, 1894 (part, specimens from Bunguran).
1895. Sciurus notatus Thomas and Hartert, Novitates Zoologicæ, II, p. 491. December, 1895 (part, specimens from Bunguran).
Type.—Adult female (skin and skull) No. 104671 U. S. National Museum. Collected on Bunguran Island, North Natunas, June 22, 1900. Original number 498.
Characters.—Size and general appearance both above and below as in the Bornean form of Sciurus notatus, but red of under parts brighter, and cheeks and chin distinctly less fulvous than surrounding parts. Skull with broader, deeper braincase than in the Bornean animal.
Color.—The color so closely resembles that of the Bornean Sciurus notatus that no detailed description is necessary. Under parts ochraceous-rufous, fading to tawny on throat, everywhere lighter and more tinged with red than in the Bornean animal. In the latter the color of the under parts extends forward to lips and also strongly suffuses the cheeks and sides of head which are only a shade browner than the throat and conspicuously more fulvous than top of head and sides of neck. In Sciurus rubidiventris the cheeks and lips are noticeably suffused with gray so that they form a distinct contrast with both throat, top of head and sides of neck.
Skull.—The skull agrees in general size with that of the Bornean animal, and is therefore much larger than in the three species from the South Natunas. It is distinguishable by greater general breadth and by the depth of the braincase, which perceptibly exceeds that of S. notatus.
Measurements.—External measurements of type: total length 380; head and body 209; tail vertebræ 171; hind foot 49 (44.5). Averages and extremes of seven specimens from the type locality: total length 378 (368-393); head and body 208 (203-222); tail vertebræ 173 (165-184); hind foot 49.3 (48-50); hind foot without claws 45.7 (44.5-47).
Cranial measurements of type: greatest length 52.4 (50.4);[20] basal length 44 (43); basilar length 41 (41); palatal length 23 (23); palatal width between middle molars 6 (6); greatest length of nasals 15 (14.8); greatest width of both nasals together 7.2 (7); interorbital breadth 18.2 (17); mastoid breadth 23 (21); breadth of braincase above roots of zygomata 24 (22); zygomatic breadth 30.4 (29); depth of braincase at anterior edge of basi-occipital 17.8 (16.8); mandible 29 (30); maxillary toothrow (alveoli) 9 (9); mandibular toothrow (alveoli) 9 (9).
Specimens examined.—Seven, all from the type locality.
Remarks.—In both size and general color this squirrel more closely resembles the Bornean representative of the group than it does either of the three forms from the South Natunas. Its relationships, however, appear to be rather with the race inhabiting Singapore Island than with any of its near geographic allies, Sciurus lautensis excepted.