Squirrels

Squirrels come in three types: tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels. In temperate climates, squirrels often store or bury seeds and nuts for the winter. This makes them important seed dispersers, since not all of them survive to return to their cache.

Genus

About

The sciurids or squirrels are a large family of rodents. The word Sciuridae means "shade-tail," and refers to the bushy appendage possessed by many of its members. It includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, the marmots (which include woodchucks), and the true flying squirrels. The African scaly-tailed flying squirrels, which belong to the family Anomaluridae, are not sciurids. Sciurids are found in all continents except Australia and Antarctica.

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Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animal (animalia)

Phylum: Chordate (Chordata)

Class: Mammal (Mammalia)

Order: Rodent (Rodentia)

Family: Sciuridae

Other Rodentia

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