1829. [_Sciurus_] _aureogaster_ Cuvier, _in_ Geoffroy
St.-Hilaire, and F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm., 6, livr. 59
pl. with text, September (binomen published only at end of
work, table generale et methodique, 7:4, 1842), type
locality "California"; restricted to Altamira, Tamaulipas,
by Nelson (Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 1:38, May 9, 1899).
_Distribution in Tamaulipas._--Tropical forest of southern
part; north at least to Rancho Santa Rosa.
According to one collector (Schaldach), natives referred to _Sciurus
aureogaster_ as "ardilla pinta" or "ardilla colorada." He recorded in
his field notes that _S. aureogaster_ was most active between 7:00 and
9:00 a. m. and again from 3:00 to 5:00 p. m., that the nest was
constructed of green oak leaves, and that the nest resembles somewhat
in size and form that of _S. carolinensis_.
Of 53 specimens examined, 17 are black and one from 70 kilometers south
of Ciudad Victoria is clearly more whitish than the others. Specimens
from the northeastern part of the range of the species (= southeastern
Tamaulipas) average darker than those from the south and west. In
individuals that are not black, the ventral reddish color covers the
shoulders and in some it extends between the shoulders to the median
dorsal area.
Among females collected from December through May, only one, taken 43
kilometers south of Ciudad Victoria on March 17, was pregnant (one
embryo).
The weight of seven adult males from Soto la Marina and the Sierra de
Tamaulipas averaged 492.5 (400-575) grams.
Specimens herein reported from San Fernando provide the northernmost
record of the species.
_Records of occurrence._--Specimens examined, 53: San
Fernando, 180 ft., 5; 9-1/2 mi. SW Padilla, 800 ft., 3;
Rancho Santa Rosa, 25 km. N, 13 km. W Cd. Victoria, 260 m.,
8; 3 mi. NE Guemes, 5; Soto la Marina (3 mi. N), 500 ft., 6;
Sierra de Tamaulipas, 10 mi. W, 8 mi. S Piedra, 1200 ft., 6;
43 km. S Cd. Victoria, 1; Ejido Santa Isabel, 2 km. W
Pan-American Highway, 2000 ft., 5; 70 km. (by highway) S Cd.
Victoria, 6 mi. W of Pan-American Highway, 3; 2 mi. W El
Carrizo, 7; Rancho Pano Ayuctle, 6 mi. N Gomez Farias, 300
ft., 2; Rancho Pano Ayuctle, 25 mi. N, 3 km. W El Mante, 300
ft., 1; 8 km. W, 10 km. N El Encino, 400 ft., 1.
Additional records: Rio Corono (= Corona) (J. A. Allen,
1891:222); Victoria (Kelson, 1952:249); Santa Maria
(Goodwin, 1954:8); 3 mi. NW Acuna, 3500 ft. (Hooper,
1953:4); Forlon (Nelson, 1899:42); NE Zamorina (Hooper,
1953:4); Gomez Farias (Goodwin, 1954:8); Altamira (Nelson,
1899:42); Tampico (J. A. Allen, 1891:222).
=Sciurus deppei negligens= Nelson