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Squirrel
Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae (), a family that includes small or medium-sized rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, and were introduced by humans to Australia. The earliest known fossilized squirrels date from the Eocene epoch, and among other living rodent families, the squirrels are most closely related to the mountain beaver and dormice. Etymology The word ''squirrel'', first attested in 1327, comes from the Anglo-Norman which is from the Old French , the reflex of a Latin language">Latin word , which was taken from the Ancient Greek word (; from ) 'shadow-tailed', referring to the long bushy tail which many of its members have. ''Sciurus'' is also the name of one of its genuses. The native Old English language, Old English word for the squirrel, , only survived into Middle Eng ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tree Squirrel
Tree squirrels are the members of the squirrel Family (biology), family (Sciuridae) commonly just referred to as "squirrels". They include more than 100 arboreal species native to all continents except Antarctica and Oceania. They do not form a single natural, or monophyly, monophyletic, group; they are variously related to others in the squirrel family, including ground squirrels, flying squirrels, marmots, and chipmunks. The defining characteristic used to determine which species of Sciuridae are tree squirrels is dependent on their habitat rather than their physiology. Tree squirrels live mostly among trees, as opposed to those that live in burrows in the ground or among rocks. An exception is the flying squirrel that also makes its home in trees, but has a physiological distinction separating it from its tree squirrel cousins: special flaps of skin called patagia, acting as glider wings, which allow gliding flight. The best-known genus of tree squirrels is ''Sciurus'', which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flying Squirrel
Flying squirrels (scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini) are a tribe (biology), tribe of 50 species of squirrels in the family (biology), family Squirrel, Sciuridae. Despite their name, they are not in fact capable of full flight in the same way as birds or bats, but they are able to gliding flight, glide from one tree to another with the aid of a patagium, a furred skin membrane that stretches from wrist to ankle. Their long tails also provide stability as they glide. Anatomically they are very similar to other squirrels with a number of adaptations to suit their lifestyle; their limb bones are longer and their hand bones, foot bones, and distal vertebrae are shorter. Flying squirrels are able to steer and exert control over their glide path with their limbs and tail. Molecular studies have shown that flying squirrels are Monophyly, monophyletic (having a common ancestor with no non-flying descendants) and originated some 18–20 million years ago. The genus ''Par ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sciurinae
Sciurinae () is a subfamily of squirrels (in the family Sciuridae), uniting the flying squirrels with certain related tree squirrels. Older sources place the flying squirrels in a separate subfamily (Pteromyinae) and unite all remaining sciurids into the subfamily Sciurinae, but this has been strongly refuted by genetic studies. Classification Subfamily SciurinaeThorington, R. W. and R. S. Hoffmann. 2005. "Family Sciuridae". pp. 754–818 in ''Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference''. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. ''Walker's Mammals of the World'' 5th edition Volume 1 *Tribe Sciurini **Genus ''Microsciurus'' – American dwarf squirrels *** Central American dwarf squirrel, ''M. alfari'' *** Amazon dwarf squirrel, ''M. flaviventer'' *** Western dwarf squirrel, ''M. mimulus'' *** Santander dwarf squirrel, ''M. santanderensis'' **Genus '' Rheithrosciurus'' *** Tufted ground squirrel, ''R. macrotis'' **Genus ''Sciurus'' ***Subgenus ''Sciurus'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fox Squirrel
The fox squirrel (''Sciurus niger''), also known as the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's fox squirrel, is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. It is sometimes mistaken for the American red squirrel or eastern gray squirrel in areas where the species co-exist, though they differ in size and coloration. Description The fox squirrel's total length measures , with a body length of and a similar tail length. They range in weight from . There is no sexual dimorphism in size or appearance. Individuals tend to be smaller in the West. There are three distinct geographical morphs in coloration. In most areas, the animal's upper body is brown-grey to brown-yellow with a typically brownish-orange underside, while in eastern regions, such as the Appalachians, there are more strikingly-patterned dark brown and black squirrels with white bands on the face and tail. In the South and parts of Nebraska and Iowa along the Missouri River, there are populations with unif ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Red Squirrel
The American red squirrel (''Tamiasciurus hudsonicus'') is one of three species of tree squirrels currently classified in the genus ''Tamiasciurus'', known as the pine squirrels (the others are the Douglas squirrel, ''T. douglasii'', and the southwestern red squirrel, ''T. fremonti''). The American red squirrel is variously known as the pine squirrel or piney squirrel, North American red squirrel, chickaree, boomer, or simply red squirrel. The squirrel is a small, , Diurnal animal, diurnal mammal that defends a year-round exclusive territory. It feeds primarily on the seeds of conifer cones, and is widely distributed across much of the United States and Canada wherever conifers are common, except in the southwestern United States, where it is replaced by the formerly conspecific southwestern red squirrel, and along the Pacific coast of the United States, where its cousin the Douglas squirrel is found instead. The squirrel has been expanding its range into hardwood forests. Taxo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sciurus
The genus ''Sciurus'' ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, Temperate zone, temperate Asia, Central America and South America. Species The number of species in the genus is subject to change. In 2005, Thorington & Hoffman- whose taxonomic interpretation is followed by the IUCN website- accepted 28 species in the genus: Genus ''Sciurus'' *Subgenus ''Sciurus'' **Allen's squirrel, ''Sciurus alleni'' **Arizona gray squirrel, ''Sciurus arizonensis'' **Mexican gray squirrel, ''Sciurus aureogaster'' **Eastern gray squirrel, ''Sciurus carolinensis'' **Collie's squirrel, ''Sciurus colliaei'' **Deppe's squirrel, ''Sciurus deppei'' **Japanese squirrel, ''Sciurus lis'' **Calabrian black squirrel, ''Sciurus meridionalis'' **Mexican fox squirrel, ''Sciurus nayaritensis'' **Fox squirrel, ''Sciurus niger'' **Peters's squirrel, ''Sciurus oculatus'' **Variegated squirrel, ''Sciurus variegatoides'' **Red squirrel, Eurasian red squirrel, ''Sciurus vul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Urocitellus Columbianus
The Columbian ground squirrel (''Urocitellus columbianus'') is a species of rodent common in certain regions of Canada and the northwestern United States. It is the second largest member of the genus ''Urocitellus'', which is part of the tribe Marmotini, along with marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and other holarctic ground squirrels. They are stout, with short dense fur, which is characteristically tawny across the bridge of the nose. Social encounters sometimes are initiated with kissing behavior and the most common activity above ground is standing at attention. Residing in mountainous terrain and high plains in northern latitudes, they hibernate for 8 to 9 months of the year in burrows, which may be used for many years. They are emaciated when emerging in the spring. The Columbian ground squirrel came to the attention of the scientific community through writings produced by Lewis and Clark, while 21st century molecular genetics has more finely illuminated its ties with other c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Callosciurini
Callosciurini is a tribe of tree squirrels mainly found in southern Asia. Species Source: * Genus '' Callosciurus'' **''Callosciurus adamsi'' ( ear-spot squirrel) **''Callosciurus albescens'' ( Kloss's squirrel) **''Callosciurus baluensis'' ( Kinabalu squirrel) **''Callosciurus caniceps'' ( gray-bellied squirrel) ***''Callosciurus caniceps bimaculatus'' ***''Callosciurus caniceps caniceps'' ***''Callosciurus caniceps concolor'' **''Callosciurus erythraeus'' ( Pallas's squirrel) ***''Callosciurus erythraeus griseimanus'' ***''Callosciurus erythraeus thaiwanensis'' **''Callosciurus finlaysonii'' ( Finlayson's squirrel) ***''Callosciurus finlaysonii frandseni'' **''Callosciurus honkhoaiensis'' ( Hon Khoai squirrel) **''Callosciurus inornatus'' ( Inornate squirrel) **''Callosciurus melanogaster'' ( Mentawai squirrel) **''Callosciurus nigrovittatus'' ( black-striped squirrel) **''Callosciurus notatus'' ( plantain squirrel) **''Callosciurus orestes'' ( Borneo black-banded squirrel) **' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cape Ground Squirrel
The Cape ground squirrel or South African ground squirrel (''Geosciurus inauris'') is found in most of the drier parts of southern Africa from South Africa, through to Botswana, and into Namibia, including Etosha National Park. The name ''Cape'' ground squirrel is somewhat misleading as it actually has a much wider area of habitation. This common name may have been arrived at to distinguish it from a tree squirrel (the eastern grey squirrel) found around Cape Town, which was imported from Europe by Cecil John Rhodes. The species has also been known as the fan-tailed squirrel. Description The Cape ground squirrel has black skin with a coat made of short stiff hairs without underfur. The fur is cinnamon on the back while the face, underbelly, sides of neck and ventral sides of limbs are white.Skurski, D., J. Waterman. 2005. "Xerus inauris", ''Mammalian Species'' 781:1-4. The sides of its body each have a white stripe that stretches from the shoulders to the thighs. The eye ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ground Squirrel
Ground squirrels are rodents of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) that generally live on the ground or in burrows, rather than in trees like the tree squirrels. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as marmots (genus ''Marmota'') or prairie dogs, while the smaller and less bushy-tailed ground squirrels tend to be known as chipmunks (genus ''Tamias''). Together, they make up the "marmot Tribe (biology), tribe" of squirrels, Marmotini, a clade within the large and mainly ground squirrel subfamily Xerinae, and containing six living genera. Well-known members of this largely Holarctic group are the marmots (''Marmota''), including the American groundhog, the chipmunks, the susliks (''Spermophilus''), and the prairie dogs (''Cynomys''). They are highly variable in size and Morphology (biology), habitus, but most are remarkably able to rise up on their hind legs and upright posture, stand fully erect comfortably for pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are native to all major land masses except for Antarctica, and several oceanic islands, though they have subsequently been introduced to most of these land masses by human activity. Rodents are extremely diverse in their ecology and lifestyles and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat, including human-made environments. Species can be arboreal, fossorial (burrowing), saltatorial/ricochetal (leaping on their hind legs), or semiaquatic. However, all rodents share several morphological features, including having only a single upper and lower pair of ever-growing incisors. Well-known rodents include Mouse, mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, beavers, Cavia, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Once included wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sciurini
Sciurini () is a tribe that includes about forty species of squirrels,Thorington and Hoffmann, 2005, p. 754 mostly from the Americas. It includes five living genera—the American dwarf squirrels, '' Microsciurus''; the Bornean '' Rheithrosciurus''; the widespread American and Eurasian tree squirrels of the genus ''Sciurus'', which includes some of the best known squirrel species; the Central American '' Syntheosciurus''; and the American pine squirrels, '' Tamiasciurus''. Like other arboreal squirrels, they are sometimes referred to as tree squirrels. Taxonomy The name "Sciurini" was first employed by Hermann Burmeister in 1854, who used it for the entire squirrel family. In his influential 1945 classification of mammals, George Gaylord Simpson included four genera of squirrels in Sciurini, which he recognized as one of eight tribes within the subfamily Sciurinae (including all squirrels except the flying squirrels): ''Sciurus'', '' Syntheosciurus'', '' Microsciurus'', and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
