The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a small, active mammal of the family Sciuridae, order Rodentia, characterized by a long bushy tail, large dark eyes, short snout with long whiskers, chestnut coloured fur and distinctive ear tufts. Essentially a forest dweller, Red Squirrels are to be found in forests of Scots pine, Norway spruce and Siberian pine trees, but also deciduouswoodlands. For most of the year red squirrels are solitary, spending most of their life in the treetops, but foraging on the ground for food which is carried up into the trees. The Red Squirrel was once common in the British Isles, but is now restricted to Wales, the Isle of Wight, Brownsea Island and Scotland. Research Red Squirrel More information about Red Squirrel
Squirrel is a popular name for the many rodents of the family Sciuridae, which also includes the woodchuck, chipmunk , and prairiedog . the genus Sciurus includes many common species of what are generally known as
squirrels, such as the red squirrel and grey squirrel so common in Britain. The subfamily Sciurinae includes the tree and ground squirrels, with about 225 species; and the subfamily Petauristinae includes the so-called flying- squirrels, with about 35 species.
Squirrels range in size from the pygmy squirrels (Myosciurus) of Africa, which are about 13 centimetres long, to the giant squirrels (Ratufa) of Asia, which are about 90 centimetres long. Squirrels are found in all parts of the world except Australia. Except for the ground squirrels, the animals live mainly in trees, and their food is largely vegetable (especially nuts, seeds, and buds), although they occasionally eat insects. Their habit of storing seeds helps in the dispersion of trees and other plant forms. In colder climates, ground squirrels commonly hibernate; tree squirrels do not. Research Squirrel
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
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