Locomotion modes and geographic distribution ranges of 184 species of Sciuroidea.

We collected locomotion data of 184 species of Sciuridae and one species of its sister family Aplodontidae. We used Nowak (1999) as the main source of information of squirrel locomotion modes, and when needed we complemented this information with more specific bibliography (Emmons, 1980; Musser et al., 2010; Lim & Yeo, 2012). We followed Steppan et al. (2004) and assigned each species to one of the following categories: gliding (species with the ability to glide with the help of extending membranes), arboreal (species that live and nest in trees, even if spending some time on the ground), intermediate (species that spend most of the time on the ground, but can also spend some time in trees being good climbers), and terrestrial (species that live and nest on the ground, seldom if ever climbing). We also assigned species to one or more continental landmasses: Africa, Eurasia, North and Central America, and South America. This was based on the current distribution of species compiled by the IUCN (Schipper et al. 2008; data downloaded on December 2015).

本研究收集了184种松鼠科（Sciuridae）动物以及其姊妹类群山河狸科（Aplodontidae）1个物种的运动行为数据。本研究以Nowak（1999）的成果作为松鼠运动模式相关信息的主要来源，必要时辅以更具针对性的文献资料（Emmons, 1980; Musser et al., 2010; Lim & Yeo, 2012）进行补充。本研究参照Steppan等人（2004）的分类标准，将所有物种划分为以下四类：滑翔类（具备借助延伸皮膜实现滑翔能力的物种）、树栖类（栖息并营巢于树木中，即便会在地面短暂停留的物种）、过渡类（多数时间在地面活动，但同时具备优秀攀爬能力、也会在树上停留的物种）以及陆栖类（栖息并营巢于地面，几乎从不进行攀爬活动的物种）。此外，本研究依据物种的现有分布范围，将其划归至一个或多个大陆板块：非洲、欧亚大陆、北美与中美洲以及南美洲。该物种所属大陆板块的划分依据世界自然保护联盟（IUCN）整理的现有分布资料（Schipper et al. 2008; 数据下载于2015年12月）。