When you enter the magical world of nature you will find very beautiful creatures that captivate from the moment they are seen, this is the case of the Chipmunk, a little animal that even when it is small is wonderful because it captivates and falls in love not only with its attractive figure but also because of how cute it can be.
What is the Squirrel?
This mammalian beauty, also called Tree Rat, is well-shaped, 50 cm long with a tail and everything, has fur in a delicate gray or reddish tone, has incredible strength in its hind legs which are larger than the front, which is very impressive.
It also has a beautiful long tail, deeply thick, which it skillfully tilts over its body towards its head; it is very selective because it eats mostly fruits that are already dry, it can be found in parks, as well as in forest areas.
The most amazing thing about this species of creatures is that they have a membrane on each costal part that helps them float when they pass from one tree to another. It is a very striking practice when they are seen flying through the trees, it is majestic to contemplate this scenario of the Squirrel.
Now, another aspect of interest also stands out, the name Squirrel applies to very specific types of rodents that have their origin in the great family of tree squirrels, ground squirrels, marmots, striped, flying or marauding squirrels, as well as the so-called puppies of the prairie
The following very important point is clarified, such as the Chipmunk arboreal and terrestrial that are located between the 230 species and about 43 species, the flying squirrels are unique and charming.
Note that the arboreal species are very common in Latin America and they are arranged in four fairly extensive groups, among them, dwarf squirrels and guerliguetos, the smallest squirrels live in South America, in the north and in the Antilles, in Central America. there are the medium and the most prominent of South America, they are various really charming creatures.
Characteristics of the Squirrel
Among its salient aspects are that the Chipmunk it has different sizes; the smallest are the dwarf African squirrels, which can measure around 13 cm long, in the Asian region a fairly large squirrel is found, measuring around 90 cm long.
It is also very interesting that the Squirrel is a fascinating rodent creature, whoever has the opportunity to meet it falls in love with it, they usually measure between 35 and 45 cm long, practically half of it is taken by the beautiful tail that it shows with charm.
Of their front legs, they have a small thumb, however, the 4 fingers are well formed with nails like the beak of a parrot and sharp as knives. Now see the grace that envelops her little head; in which a pair of radiant eyes stand out like the sun in spring.
His mouth is super striking because of the well-developed and prominent teeth. It is noteworthy that, if you manage to raise a Squirrel from a very young age, it can easily be tamed and trained, they are by nature very tender and affectionate.
squirrel species
Squirrels, like other animals, have a variety of species, among them you can find the main ones, which are:
Red squirrel
The Sciurus vulgaris is known daily as the common squirrel and it can be found within European forests. Get to measure between 20 and 30 centimeters in its entire body, thinking of 18 to 36 grams. It has a characteristic reddish color, which is why it is known as the Red squirrel.
chipmunk
Their scientific name is Chipmunk, but more colloquially they are known as striped or listrada squirrels. It is one of the most popular types of squirrel among the species and they are even the protagonists of movies and stories for children that have been very popular.
These can be found mostly in the forests of the North American zone. They are smaller than the Red Squirrels, measuring 14 and 19 centimeters, but they are more robust, so their weight can reach 100 grams. The stripes on its fur are interspersed with black and cream.
korean squirrel
This squirrel can also come to be identified as the Siberian chipmunk. This species of squirrel has its beginnings in the area of Korea, Japan, Central Russia and China. They were able to reach the areas of Europe after some of them managed to escape from their captivity. The way to identify these beautiful squirrels is by seeing their characteristic black and white stripes (in some cases brown), which are located on their backs.
It can measure from 18 to 25 centimeters from its head to its tail and its weight can reach 150 grams.
Richardson Squirrel
This type of squirrels have a high level of sociability, so they always live with large groups and have their partners. Due to this characteristic, they are also ideal pets in many of the countries where they are found, but one of the things that must be taken into account is that they require a lot of health care.
These are one of the most robust and can have a size ranging from 25 to 30 centimeters. In addition, because they are so large, they can weigh from 450 to 1000 grams. As for their color, they can have different shades of brown in their bulky fur.
scientific classification
Within its classification made by science, those that are of the reino animals, of the class of mammals, of order rodent of the great family of the Sciurids, Sciuridae. The Squirrel belongs to the species of sciuromorph rodents, to which belong those of the genus Ratufa, which is unique in the subfamily Ratufinae, there is also the unique neotropical dwarf squirrel of the subfamily Sciurillinae, Sciurinae a large conglomerate of beautiful squirrels that catch you with their natural charm.
What does it feed on?
Squirrels have a very vast diet, they feed on a variety of seeds, bark, nuts, sprouts and acorns, which during the summer they bury in the ground, in order to feed in the winter season. It is an activity of storing that they do in various points of the place where they are living, they also feed on reptile eggs, among them the Serpent
Reproduction
Now see easilyHow do squirrels reproduce?? It is very important to establish that their perfect time can be confirmed in the spring season and in early summer, they usually give birth after 28 days of gestation, between 4 and 5 squirrels with a limit of 7 twice a year.
How is the habitat of the Squirrel?
In addition to its development as a delicate creature, the Squirrel builds its home in the hollow part that forms in trees or in a woven bower of a tree branch, in some cases they move to empty nests of any Jackdaw, a winged animal very similar to the Raven wave Harpy eagle.
It is curious that they line the nest at the top with interwoven branches to serve as a roof and thereby prevent water from entering their home when it rains. But something more incredible is observed, they make their nest with two entrances, so that the Squirrel can have its young there, which are between 3 and 4 that it gives birth to.
Squirrel Behavior
They are creatures that do their work mostly in the middle of the day, experts at moving through the treetops quickly and silently. Efficiently jump, accelerate or lower logs with incredible speed.
You can also see that the squirrel is more active during the mating season, when the male squirrel prepares to search for the female through the treetops. While, the rest of the year, he spends his life in solitude. In very cold regions the Chipmunk hibernates, which means that they rest all winter amalgamated with their tail.
