trees and retreat to the forest canopy during the heavy floods of the wet season. They are common animals within their range, with population densities of having been reported; individual home ranges vary from . They are diurnal herbivores, feeding primarily on large, hard-shelled nuts, such as those of murumuru, Attalea, and Dipteryx. Known predators include ocelots and jaguars. The squirrels are non-territorial, with several individuals often feeding from the same tree. They cache nuts on the ground, and generally descend to ground level when alarmed, rather than jumping between branches. They have been reported to make alarm calls that sound like a sneeze followed by a chattering noise. Although most details of their reproduction are unclear, females are said to give birth to litters of two to four pups. References Sciurus Rodents of South America Mammals of Bolivia Mammals of Brazil Mammals of Colombia Mammals of Ecuador Mammals of Peru Fauna of the Amazon Mammals described in 1818 Taxa named by Ignaz von Olfers