Sciuridae Menu
Family Sciuridae
The Sciuridae family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks and the larger bodied marmots. Sciurids have a relatively primitive jaw structure, characterized by large upper and lower incisors (used for gnawing), a large diastema where the canines would otherwise be, followed by the heavily ridged molars used for grinding. Members of this family have well developed claws on five functional toes, utilized for climbing or digging, depending upon the species.
The Sciuridae family
- have diverse diets, foraging for nuts, seeds, mast and green vegetation.
- always opportunistic, may consume animal matter when available (i.e., carrion, eggs).
- emit complicated vocalizations.
- have incisor teeth that grow continuously throughout life, as with all members of the order Rodentia.
References Forsyth, A. 1985. Mammals of the Canadian Wild. Camden House Publishing, Camden, Ontario.
Jansa, S. and Myers, P. 2000. " Sciuridae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyonidae.html>. Accessed October 28, 2009.
Scotter, G. and Ulrich, T. 1995. Mammals of the Canadian Rockies. Fifth House, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Jansa, S. and Myers, P. 2000. " Sciuridae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyonidae.html>. Accessed October 28, 2009.
Scotter, G. and Ulrich, T. 1995. Mammals of the Canadian Rockies. Fifth House, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Note: The species listed within this family only represent species for which the Hubbard Collection has specimens. It does not represent all existing species within this family.
