Squirrel
Small rodents with bushy tails, found worldwide except polar regions.
Squirrels belong to the family Sciuridae, a group of small to medium-sized rodents. This family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (like chipmunks and prairie dogs), and flying squirrels. They are native to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, and humans have introduced them to Australia. The oldest known squirrel fossils come from the Eocene epoch. Among living rodent families, squirrels are most closely related to mountain beavers and dormice.
- Scientific classification
- Family Sciuridae
- Earliest fossil record
- Eocene epoch
- Native range
- Americas, Eurasia, Africa
- Introduced range
- Australia
- Size range
- 10–14 cm to 1.27 m total length
- Weight range
- 12–26 g to 8 kg or more
- Typical wild lifespan
- 5 to 10 years
Lore & Background
Squirrels live in almost every habitat except high polar regions and the driest deserts. They are predominantly herbivorous, eating seeds and nuts, but many eat insects and small vertebrates. Many juvenile squirrels die in the first year. Adult wild squirrels live 5 to 10 years; in captivity, some survive 10 to 20 years. Premature death can occur when a nest falls, and abandoned young are sometimes rescued by wildlife rehabilitators, though many are euthanized due to the constant care required.
Reader's Guide
Squirrels are significant as a widespread and adaptable rodent family, playing roles in forest ecology through seed caching and dispersal. Their behavior includes caching nuts in temperate regions and hanging nuts or mushrooms on branches in subtropical areas to prevent mold; some flying squirrels carve grooves into nuts to fix them between twigs. Squirrels are synanthropes, thriving in human environments through a process called synurbanization, where they lose fear of humans. They were re-introduced to New York after near-eradication during the Industrial Revolution to entertain and remind people of nature. Their high behavioral plasticity allows rapid adaptation to urban life, though reliance on anthropogenic food can lead to competition and aggression during scarcity. Squirrels have been observed preying on small birds, snakes, rodents, and even a large stray dog in one documented case, but attacks on humans are exceedingly rare.
Did You Know?
- The word 'squirrel' comes from Ancient Greek σκίουρος, meaning 'shade-tail.'
- A group of squirrels is called a 'dray' or a 'scurry.'
- Some flying squirrels carve grooves into nuts to fix them between twigs, like a mortise-tenon joint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Squirrel?
Squirrels are a diverse family of small-to-medium rodents (Sciuridae) that include tree, ground, and flying species, all recognizable by their bushy tails. They are found across most of the globe's landmasses, with the only major absence being polar regions.
Where do Squirrels live?
Their native range covers the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, though humans have also established populations in Australia. They occupy a wide variety of non-polar habitats worldwide.
How big do Squirrels get?
The family covers an enormous size spectrum, from species as small as 10–14 cm and 12–26 g up to individuals reaching 1.27 m in total length and 8 kg or more in weight.
How old are Squirrels as a lineage?
The oldest squirrel fossils we know of come from the Eocene epoch, marking them as an ancient rodent group. Among living families, they are most closely related to mountain beavers and dormice.
Why are Squirrels important?
As one of the most geographically widespread and size-diverse rodent families, squirrels occupy ecological roles on three native continents and a fourth introduced one. Their presence in forests, grasslands, and other habitats makes them a defining component of many ecosystems.
More in Rodents And Small Mammals 1-18
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