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Squirrel
Squirrel Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Mammalia |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Rodentia |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Sciuridae |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Sciuridae |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Mammal |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Omnivore |
| Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 15-30cm (6-12in) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 250-1,000g (0.5-2.2lbs) |
| Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 25km/h (16mph) |
| Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 2-8 years |
| Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | Solitary |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Threatened |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Black, Grey, Brown, Tan, Red |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Fur |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Fruit |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Woodland and dense forests |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 3 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Fruit, Seeds, Insects |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Snakes, Coyote, Weasels |
| Special Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Cheek teeth and long, furry tail |
Squirrel Location
Squirrel
There are many different species of squirrel natively found in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Squirrels are small rodents generally between 10 cm and 20 cm tall, although some species of squirrel-like marmots and prairie dogs around the size of a small beaver.
The red squirrel native to the United Kingdom is rapidly becoming extinct due to the rise in eastern grey squirrel numbers. In the UK grey squirrels are classed as vermin so it is illegal to release any into the wild as the grey squirrel destroys the habitats of the smaller native red squirrel.
There are around 50 species of flying squirrel found in treetops worldwide. These flying squirrels cannot fly as such, but more jump and glide to their destination, with the flying squirrel able to use its shorter tail to help it balance.
There are about six species of ground squirrel still found mainly in America with the exception of the African ground squirrel which resembles a small meerkat. Marmots and prairie dogs can grow to up to 60 cm in length and live for more than 20 years in captivity.
Squirrels eat nuts, berries, shoots and occasionally insects. Most species of squirrel hibernates during the colder winter months, with the squirrels beginning to store food in their dens during the autumn in preparation for the winter.
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First Published: 29th November 2008, Last Updated: 8th November 2019
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5. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2009]
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