I visited Way Kambas NP, South Sumatra, in August 2014 and used Hari, an excellent local guide, for much of my time there. The 31 mammal species seen included great views of Pen-tailed Treeshrew, Black-eared Pygmy Squirrel, Indomalayan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse, six bats; and a brief view of Marbled Cat. Birds included Large Frogmouth, Reddish Scops Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Fireback and White-winged Duck.
On a 23-day trip around Sabah (Borneo), with Jo Dale in March-April 2014, we saw 56 mammals (including 8 primates, 15 squirrels and 10 bats).
Least Pygmy Squirrel
Jo joined me on Day 5 after I had visited Crocker Range and Poring Hot Springs. Other key sites included Kinabalu NP, Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. My trip report (pdf with photos) is here.
Paul Carter. Revised 2024 Oct 11. A version of this report was first posted (2013/2014) as a pdf on mammalwatching.com. This revision notes the change of genus and corrects the state to Montana (and not Idaho).
Location I had two sightings of Pygmy Rabbit (Sylvilagus idahoensis) on Reservoir Creek road near Bannack State Park. This road turns west off Bannack Bench Rd a couple miles south of Bannack State Park (about 20 miles west of Dillon, Montana). At about 3.8 miles down Reservoir Creek Road there is a farmhouse; and beyond that there is a sagebush area at about 4.1 to 4.8 miles from the junction.
Sightings (1) 7 Oct 2013. Shortly before dusk, I had fleeting views of a grey ball that gave about 4 high-pitched squeaks as it bolted into cover after I surprised it in sagebush area on the edge of a gully (about 4.7 mile from the junction). (2) 8 Oct 2013. Yesterday’s view was not very good so Chi Phan and I returned the next day at 7.40 am and saw another at 8 am. It was resting/sunning itself at the entrance of its burrow about 50 meters off the road, but visible from the road (see image below). iNat post here.
Pygmy Rabbit (Sylvilagus idahoensis) in Montana (USA). Image # 20131008-1033Pygmy Rabbit (Sylvilagus idahoensis) in center of image; in Montana (USA). Image # 20131008-1038
Other sites The staff at Bannack State Park also said that they have been seen near the historic cemetery just outside the old mining town. It is also reported off Dyce Creek Road. I had no luck at either site.
Taxonomy “Brachylagus idahoensis” is now treated as “Sylvilagus idahoensis” following Cano-Sanchez et al (2022) as noted in MDD-1/9.
References Cano-Sánchez E, Rodriguez-Gomez F, Ruedas LA, Oyama K, Leon-Paniagua L, Mastretta-Yanes A, Velazquez A (2022). Using Ultraconserved Elements to Unravel Lagomorph Phylogenetic Relationships. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 29(2):395-411. Abstract. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-021-09595-0 MDD-1/9: Mammal Diversity Database (2022 April). Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.9) [Data set]. Zenodo. Published 1 April 2022. https://zenodo.org/record/6407053#.Y9xORXDMK5c
On a 5 day visit with Dave Sargeant to Taman Negara NP (Peninsular Malaysia), in mid-June 2012, we saw 23 mammal species, 125 birds and 3 snakes. We spent 4 nights in the Kuala Tahan area and then 2 nights at Sungai Relau. The mammals seen included Malayan Tapir, Leopard Cat, Sundaic Arboreal Niviventer, Bower’s Berylmys, Grey Tree Rat and 6 squirrel species. Link to trip report pdf including photos: 20120617-TamanNegara(Malaysia)-PaulCarter-TRv2.
Prevost’s Squirrel
Birds seen included Large Frogmouth, Barred Eagle-Owl, Jambu Fruit Dove and Garnet Pitta. Dave’s detailed report on the birding is posted on his website norththailandbirding.com
