African striped squirrel
Encyclopedia
African striped squirrels (genus
Funisciurus), or rope squirrels, form a taxon of squirrel
s under the subfamily Xerinae
and the tribe Protoxerini
. They are only found in western and central Africa
.
African striped squirrels have been implicated in the spread of human monkeypox
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
There are 9 species in the genus:
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Funisciurus), or rope squirrels, form a taxon of squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s under the subfamily Xerinae
Xerinae
Xerinae is a subfamily of squirrels, many of which are highly terrestrial. It includes the tribes Marmotini , Xerini , and Protoxerini .-References:* Thorington, R. W. and R. S. Hoffmann. 2005. Family Sciuridae. Pp 754-818 in Wilson, E. D...
and the tribe Protoxerini
Protoxerini
Protoxerini is a tribe of squirrels found in Africa. There are thirty species in six genera.-Genera:Epixerus Funisciurus Heliosciurus Myosciurus Paraxerus...
. They are only found in western and central Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
African striped squirrels have been implicated in the spread of human monkeypox
Monkeypox
Monkeypox also known as cockpox is an exotic infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. The disease was first identified in laboratory monkeys, hence its name, but in its natural state it seems to infect rodents more often than primates...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
There are 9 species in the genus:
- Thomas's Rope Squirrel Funisciurus anerythrus
- Lunda Rope Squirrel Funisciurus bayonii
- Carruther's Mountain Squirrel Funisciurus carruthersi
- Congo Rope Squirrel Funisciurus congicus
- Lady Burton's Rope Squirrel Funisciurus isabella
- Ribboned Rope Squirrel Funisciurus lemniscatus
- Red-cheeked Rope Squirrel Funisciurus leucogenys
- Fire-footed Rope Squirrel Funisciurus pyrrhopus
- Kintampo Rope Squirrel Funisciurus substriatus