The red-tailed squirrel (Sciurus granatensis ) is a species of tree squirrel distributed from southern Central America to northern South America.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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ScansorialScansorial animals are those that are adapted to or specialized for climbing. Many animals climb not only in tress but also in other habitats, such...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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PolyandryPolygyny is a mating system in which one female lives and mates with multiple males but each male only mates with a single female.
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withRed-tailed squirrels are medium-sized tree squirrels. The color of their coat varies depending on location. It can range from dark orange to dull yellow sprinkled with black to all black. Their bellies can be white to bright orange-rust. These squirrels have bushy tails which are yellowish brown in color and may have a black tip. During the winter the color of their coat differs slightly from the summer coat.
Red-tailed squirrels are found from southern Central to northern South America. They occur in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago (also on Tobago), and Venezuela (also on Isla de Margarita). This species has been also introduced to a small area near Havana on Cuba. Red-tailed squirrels inhabit many types of forests and can also be found in picnic grounds.
Red-tailed squirrels are generally solitary creatures. They can be seen in groups only during the breeding season, feeding, or with their young. Even when these squirrels are in groups, they try to avoid each other. They even try to avoid one another when feeding and never stay in the same tree at one time with another individual. Red-tailed squirrels are diurnal and most of the day is spent resting. They don't spend much time jumping, climbing or doing other activities. Red-tailed squirrels are usually silent. Only when threatened, they will make a few short, hoarse sounds. They also can produce grunts, squeals and chase each other.
Red-tailed squirrels are herbivorous. The mainly feed on fruits, nuts, and seeds. Their diet may also include different leaves, flowers, bark, and mushrooms.
Red-tailed squirrels have a polyandrous mating system. This means that females have more than one partner during a breeding season. These squirrels breed from late December to late October. Females can have 2-3 litters during a year with 1 or 2 kittens in each litter. The gestation period lasts around 2 months. Young are born hairless, with closed eyes and weigh around 9-10 g. Fur starts growing around 14 days after birth and their eyes open in 30-32 days after birth. Kittens stay in the nest around 6 weeks after birth. When the mother leaves the nest, she usually covers her young with nest material to hide them from predators. Females nurse their young around 61 days, after which they leave their offspring. Both, males and females in this species reach reproductive maturity at around 1 year of age.
There are no major threats to Red-taied squirrels at present.
According to IUCN, the Red-tailed squirrel is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Due to their diet, Red-tailed squirrels disperse the seeds of the fruits and flowers that they feed on. Thus, having a big impact on the ecosystem of their range, helping many plants survive.
