Product Description
Squirrels get a lot of attention from humans, but not always for good reasons. We tend to dwell on negatives like stolen tomatoes and occupied attics, sometimes failing to fully appreciate the long, mostly harmless, and often entertaining history of squirrels living in our midst. This softer side deserves attention, especially since squirrels are among the most visible wildlife in many big cities and suburbs. They're widespread and widely liked, and despite a knack for mischief, rarely inspire quite the same scorn as other, more garbage-prone city animals like rats, pigeons, or opossums. They're like furry little forest ambassadors, using parks and backyards as their urban embassies. Yet even for people who see squirrels every day, this diverse family of rodents can be full of surprises. Here are a few interesting facts you may not know about these charismatic opportunists who share our habitats.
The squirrel family is among the most diverse of all modern mammals, with more than 278 species and 51 genera thriving everywhere from Arctic tundra and tropical rainforest to farms, suburbs, and big cities.1 It includes a variety of tree squirrels and flying squirrels, but also many ground-dwelling species—like chipmunks, prairie dogs, and marmots—that may be less obviously squirrelly to casual observers more familiar with bushy-tailed acrobats. Nonetheless, they're all members of the taxonomic family Sciuridae, which is native to every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
The Indian giant squirrel is one of several giant squirrel species native to South Asia.
Squirrels range in size from the five-inch (13 centimeter) African pygmy squirrel to relative behemoths like Indian giant squirrel (pictured above) or China's red-and-white giant flying squirrel, both of which can grow more than three feet (almost one meter) long.
A squirrel's four front teeth will keep growing throughout its life. Squirrels have four front teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives, at a rate of about six inches (15 cm) per year. This helps their incisors endure the seemingly incessant gnawing, otherwise they'd quickly run out of teeth.
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