This is an extremely variable species in terms of coat colours. As such numerous former species and subspecies have been named from within its range, often from the same locality. Over the years many species were moved into subspecies of this taxon. In 1961 Cabrera recognised 28 subspecies. Other subspecies were subsequently added, such as
Sciurus llanensis which was named from southern Venezuela in 1984 and later sank into
Sciurus granatensis as a subspecies, so that by the early 2000s 32 subspecies were recognised. In 2015 these were reduced to 6 geographical subspecies. Koprowski, Mercer and Roth writing for the IUCN in 2008, however, claimed the species should perhaps be split into a number of species based on never published morphological and genetic research. •
S. granatensis ssp.
chapmani - Found in Trinidad, Tobago, and the neighbouring coast of Venezuela, occurring at all elevations within this range. 1 synonym from old subspecies:
chapmani. Subspecies
tobagensis and
quebradensis were brought into synonymy before 1961. Distinguished by the lack of orange fur patches behind the ears. Otherwise dark brown with orange streaks on the head, orange throat, chest and belly different colour than the sides, dark brown tail with the tips of the hairs red. The orange hairs of the abdomen have a grey base. •
S. granatensis ssp.
chrysuros - Found on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador (to the border with Peru). 12 synonyms from old subspecies:
candalensis,
carchensis,
chrysuros,
ferminae,
griseimembra,
griseogena,
imbaburae,
llanensis,
meridensis,
soederstroemi,
sumaco, and
tarrae. Distinguished by brown or dark brown crown of the head, back, and base of the tail; light yellow to red streaks on the head and back; sometimes a black line down the middle of the back; inconspicuous pale orange patches behind the ears; reddish-orange throat to belly, sometimes with white spots; the majority of the end of the tail with hairs coloured orange to reddish (or both in different bands) at their tip, sometimes with the tip of the tail coloured black. •
S. granatensis ssp.
granatensis - Occurs at high elevations in the western Andes of Colombia to the Sierra de Santa Marta, and across the central and eastern cordilleras of Colombia to western Venezuela, also in the lowlands around
Lake Maracaibo. 13 synonyms from old subspecies:
agricolae,
bondae,
gerrardi,
granatensis,
maracaibensis,
norosiensis,
perijae,
quindianus,
saltuensis,
splendidus,
valdiviae,
variabilis, and
zuliae. Distinguished by being larger than the other subspecies; patches behind the ears prominent; the back sometimes patterned with different colours brown, red, orange, sometimes blackish patterns of varying sizes near the tail (especially in the south), although sometimes the back is uniformly orange (especially in the north); sometimes a red or orange cap on the head or further down; throat, chest and belly may range from completely red (especially in the south), completely white (especially in the north), orange with white spots or patches of varying sizes, sometimes a line or lines of white dots down the middle of the belly. •
S. granatensis ssp.
hoffmanni - Native to western Panama and throughout Costa Rica up to the border of Nicaragua. 2 synonyms from old subspecies:
chiriquensis (Panama, Costa Rica) and
hoffmanni (Panama). Distinguished by a reddish back and tail streaked with yellow or orange, and an orange belly with hairs having a grey base. •
S. granatensis ssp.
morulus - Occurs from the Panama Canal Zone south to western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. 3 synonyms from old subspecies:
manavi,
morulus, and
versicolor. Distinguished by usually lacking different coloured patches behind the ears (except in forms from Ecuador); the middle of the back is very dark brown, especially in Colombia, less so in Panama; red throat, chest and belly with the hairs completely red; tail tricoloured with a dark base, large reddish middle band and black end. •
S. granatensis ssp.
nesaeus - An insular subspecies endemic to
Isla de Margarita. 1 synonym from old subspecies:
nesaeus. Distinguished by brown head and back heavily streaked with orange; inconspicuous orange patches behind the ears; reddish-orange throat, chest and belly with the hairs entirely reddish-orange; colour of the belly sharply set off from the colour of the sides; tail with brown base with the greater portion near the end having the hairs washed with reddish-orange tips. ==Similar species==