Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
Habitat
Collie's squirrel primarily inhabits montane forests and oak-pine woodlands in western Mexico, at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters. They prefer areas with plenty of trees for nesting and foraging, avoiding open or arid regions.
Diet
Collie's squirrel feeds mainly on acorns, pine nuts, fruits, and occasionally insects or bird eggs. They are diurnal foragers, often caching food in tree cavities for later use, and spend much of their day climbing trees to find food.
Behavior
Collie's squirrel is diurnal and arboreal, spending most of its time in trees where it builds nests from leaves and twigs. They are generally solitary except during mating season and exhibit territorial behavior by chasing away intruders from their feeding areas. These squirrels are agile climbers and use their tails for communication and balance.
Conservation Status
Collie's squirrel is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population trend, though habitat loss from deforestation poses a potential threat.