Heliosciurus mutabilis
The Mutable Sun Squirrel is native to Central Africa.
Its range includes:
The species occurs across much of the Congo Basin and surrounding forest regions.
Mutable Sun Squirrels inhabit tropical forest environments.
Typical habitats include:
They are adaptable and may also occur in human-modified landscapes with tree cover.
Related tree squirrels help break up the reference while showing how habitat, body form and movement can vary across the broader group.
Mutable Sun Squirrels build nests known as dreys in trees.
Typical nest characteristics include:
They may also occasionally use tree cavities as shelter.
The species name “mutable” refers to the variable coloration seen among individuals.
These are related tree squirrels, not photographs of Mutable Sun Squirrel. Use them as visual context for locomotion, posture, feeding and environmental use.
Mutable Sun Squirrels are diurnal and arboreal.
Typical behaviors include:
They are agile climbers well adapted to dense tropical forests.
Mutable Sun Squirrels are omnivorous.
Common foods include:
Their feeding behavior helps with seed dispersal in forest ecosystems.
Squirrels in the same broad group can look and live very differently. These credited references provide comparison without changing the facts for Mutable Sun Squirrel.
Young squirrels are raised in tree nests constructed from leaves and twigs.
Unknown
IUCN Status: Least Concern
The Mutable Sun Squirrel remains widespread throughout Central African forests, and populations are considered stable.
