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Eurasian red squirrel - SCIURUS VULGARIS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Squirrel": "Squirrel" comes from the Middle English word
"squyrel," which came from the Greek "skiouros" for the animal.
Notice that the family name for these animals is "Sciuridae," which
may also be the derivation of our word "scurry."
Location: Europe and Asia.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Coniferous and deciduous woodlands.
Description: The coat is reddish brown, and sometimes black. The tail is long and plume-shaped. In winter there is a tuft of hair on the ears. The front foot has four large toes while the hind foot has five. It grows to just under a foot in length, with an additional nine inches for its tail. It can weigh a little over a pound at its heaviest.
Behavior: The Eurasian red squirrel feeds on seeds, fruit, bark, insects and will sometimes eat eggs and small birds. When plenty of food is available it will store extra food for times of scarcity. It does not hibernate. It builds numerous round nests, which are made of twigs stripped of leaves and covered with grass, leaves, and moss. The nest is built at the top of a tall tree. This diurnal creature is extremely agile and climbs around trees with ease. It is just as quick to dart down to the ground again headfirst. It can swim. When it walks on the ground the tail is held upright, and when it jumps the tail billows out behind it to maintain balance. The tail is also used as a means of communication with other squirrels. This red squirrel emits a distinctive squeak, and chatters.
Reproduction: These squirrels mates in April, and after four to six weeks of gestation the female delivers 3 or 4 young, which are hairless and have their eyes closed. They are weaned at 2 to 3 months.
Go to the Rodents Page to learn more about all the gnawing animals.
Or go to the Squirrel Index to study other
squirrels.
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