Discovered a new squirrel species in Vietnam

Scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in collaboration with scientists from Kyoto University and Obihiro University (Japan) have discovered a new squirrel species for science. This may be endemic squirrel, only in Vietnam.

Tomato tree squirrel.

The new species is named after potato island squirrel (Hon Khoai squirrel) , Callosciurus honkhoaiensis scientific name. This new squirrel species is found at Hon Khoai island, Ca Mau province. Specimens of species are being kept at the Vertebrate Zoology Department, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

Compared with other squirrel-like squirrels in the Indochinese peninsula, Squirrel species of potato is smaller in size, especially body length and skull size. In terms of morphological characteristics, the species of squirrel is different from other squirrels because the hair at the tip of the tail is white.

Scientists said the potato tree squirrel was only recorded at Hon Khoai island. Further investigation is needed to assess the species distribution of the islands in the southern part of Vietnam and at the same time make further assessments on the number of species populations on the island to have species conservation solutions for the species. in accordance with the conditions of the island, as well as species may become endemic to Vietnam.

The discovery of the potato island squirrel was published in the International Journal of Mammalogy.