Geographic range: Neotropic: Native range of distribution stretches from Central Guatemala to the provinces of Nuevo Leon, Guanajuato and Nayarit, in Mexico. It was introduced to Elliot Key, 32 km south of Miami.

Physical characteristics: Large, highly variable squirrel. At least 4 color groups are described:
1. south of Tehuantepec - Pale gray above, often orange patch on head and neck. Cream or orange below.
2. Tabasco - Shoulders, sides, forelegs and belly deep red, rest gray.
3. Tabasco - Entirely black.
4. Chiapas highlands, Guatemala - Dark gray or gray brown above, orange below.

Food habits: Important sources of food are the fruit (esp. papaya), seeds (Cecropia, Ficus spp. etc), coconuts and thatch palm.

Behavior: Diurnal and solitary. Territorial. Mainly arboreal.

Reproduction: Nest constructed of leaves, placed on tree branch. Litter has 2 - 4 squirrels, born during the dry season.

Habitat: thorn scrub, deciduous forest, evergreen forest, pine - oak forest, secondary growth, seldom in wet evergreen forest.