Red-hipped squirrel

The red-hipped squirrel (Dremomys pyrrhomerus) is a squirrel of the family Sciuridae found in southern and central China, including the island of Hainan, and in the extreme north of Vietnam. It is a fairly small squirrel, with a head and body length of about 19 to 21 centimetres, a tail of about 14 to 16 centimetres and a weight near 245 grams. It takes its name from a conspicuous red patch on each thigh, and the whole underside of its tail is a vivid red. Two subspecies are recognised, the nominate form on the mainland and riudonensis on Hainan, whose head is completely red. The animal is almost entirely terrestrial and is recorded in holes in rocky terrain, where it is thinly scattered across the landscape, and it is reported to be fairly inactive in winter. Little is known of its diet, breeding or social life. The IUCN rates it Least Concern because of its wide range, presumed large population and presence in a number of protected areas, though it has been listed regionally in China as Near Threatened.