Tree squirrel

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Tree squirrels
Fossil range: Middle Miocene - Recent
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciuromorpha
Family: Sciuridae
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Sciurini
Genera

Microsciurus
Rheithrosciurus
Sciurus
Syntheosciurus
Tamiasciurus

Although the term tree squirrel can refer to any arboreal member of the family Sciuridae, it is generally in reference to the common and widely distributed members of the genus Sciurus and close kin, the tribe Sciurini. These genera contain most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, and South America. The tree squirrels are close relatives of the flying squirrels.

Unlike ground squirrels, tree squirrels have not been proven to transmit diseases to humans. They generally spend little time on the ground, preferring the heights of the forest canopy.

[edit] Species

  • Tribe Sciurini
    • Genus Microsciurus - the Dwarf Squirrels
    • Genus Rheithrosciurus
    • Genus Sciurus
      • Subgenus Tenes
        • Sciurus anomalus- Persian Squirrel
      • Subgenus Sciurus
        • Sciurus vulgaris - Eurasian Red Squirrel
        • Sciurus lis - Japanese Squirrel
        • Sciurus carolinensis - Eastern Gray Squirrel
        • Sciurus aureogaster - Mexican Gray Squirrel
        • Sciurus colliaei - Collie's Squirrel
        • Sciurus yucatanensis - Yucatan Squirrel
        • Sciurus variegatoides - Variegated Squirrel
        • Sciurus deppei - Deppe's Squirrel
        • Sciurus niger - Eastern Fox Squirrel
        • Sciurus oculatus - Peters's Squirrel
        • Sciurus alleni - Allen's Squirrel
        • Sciurus nayaritensis - Mexican Fox Squirrel
        • Sciurus arizonensis - Arizona Gray Squirrel
      • Subgenus Hesperosciurus
      • Subgenus Otosciurus
      • Subgenus Guerlinguetus
        • Sciurus granatensis - Red-tailed Squirrel
        • Sciurus richmondi - Richmond's Squirrel
        • Sciurus aestuans - Brazilian Squirrel or Guianan Squirrel
        • Sciurus gilvigularis - Yellow-throated Squirrel
        • Sciurus ignitus - Bolivian Squirrel
        • Sciurus pucheranii - Andean Squirrel
        • Sciurus stramineus - Guayaquil Squirrel
        • Sciurus sanborni - Sanborn's Squirrel
        • Sciurus argentinius - South Yungas Red Squirrel
      • Subgenus Hadrosciurus
        • Sciurus flammifer - Fiery Squirrel
        • Sciurus pyrrhinus - Junín Red Squirrel
      • Subgenus Urosciurus
    • Genus Syntheosciurus - Bangs's Mountain Squirrel
    • Genus Tamiasciurus - the Pine Squirrels

[edit] References

  • Andrew Duff and Ann Lawson (2004). Mammals of the World: A checklist. A & C Black. ISBN 071366021X. 
  • Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
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