Finlayson's Squirrel

Callosciurus finlaysonii

Overview

Habitat

Few detailed descriptions on habitat preference exist but the species has been linked to a wide range of forest habitats, including lowland forests, open woods, dense forests and coconut plantations

Description

Finlayson’s Squirrel is a rodent native to South East Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam)
Sometimes called the variable squirrel because it has 16 recognised subspecies, all with highly variable appearances, meaning it is difficult to identify
Colour variation occurs both within and between subspecies
The average length of the head and body is around 19cm and tail length, 17cm, for both sexes

Origin and Worldwide Distribution

C. finlaysonii is native to Cambodia Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam but has been introduced to Singapore, Japan and Italy.
In Italy, two separate populations exist as a result of human-mediated release into the wild

Potential or Known Impacts

C. finlaysonii is known to strip the bark from trees to access sap bearing material, this can permanently damage and/or kill the tree, lead to fungal infections and reduces the economic value of commercial timber
C. finlaysonni could be a vector for diseases which have the potential to harm native wildlife and humans

Is it found in Northern Ireland?

It is not currently present in Northern Ireland

How could it get here?

Spread of C. finlaysonni outside of the native range has been a result of the pet trade, followed by human-mediated release of the animal into the wild.

Management/Methods for Prevention:

Prevention via enforcing the IAS (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) ensuring that C. finlaysonni is not introduced to Northern Ireland
Reporting any sightings so that Rapid Response can be instigated
If Rapid Response is not successful, management can include both physical and biological control methods
Invasive populations of C. finlaysonni are incredibly difficult to manage, as only a few individuals are needed for successful establishment
Effective management must include measures to increase public awareness of the problem

Current Legislative Position (Listed on 02 August 2022)

This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.

For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk

Research

A case study on Callosciurus genus and the spread via the pet trade

Species Related Files:

RA_Callosciurus_finlaysonii_Finlayson's_squirrel