fox squirrel
(Sciurus niger)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Fox squirrel is a large tree squirrel, |
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Size |
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Head and body: Tail: |
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Sign |
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Similar Species |
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Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is smaller, no more than 10″ in length head to tail. The underside and backs of the ears are white or pale gray. The guard hairs are tipped whitish. The tail appears gray and white. |
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Habitat |
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Open woodlands with widely spaced trees and an open understory, hedgerows, city parks. |
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Ecology |
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Behavior |
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Lifespan |
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Adults live 8 to 18 years, but most young die before 1 year |
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Life Cycle |
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Food |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 2/15/2023 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Mammalia (mammals) | ||
| Subclass | Theria | ||
| Infraclass | Placentalia (placental mammals) | ||
| Superorder | Euarchontoglires (primates, rodents, and allies) | ||
| Order | Rodentiia (rodents) | ||
| Suborder | Sciuromorpha (squirrels, dormice, and mountain beavers) | ||
Family |
Sciuridae (squirrels) | ||
Subfamily |
Sciurinae (typical and flying squirrels) | ||
| Tribe | Sciurini (typical squirrels) | ||
| Subtribe | Sciurina | ||
Genus |
Sciurus (tree squirrels) | ||
| Subgenus | Sciurus | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Bachman fox squirrel (Sciurus niger texianus) big cypress fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia) Bryant’s fox squirrel (Sciurus niger bryanti) Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) Delta fox squirrel (Sciurus niger subauratus) Louisiana fox squirrel (Sciurus niger ludovicianus) northern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger neglectus) Sherman’s fox squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani) southeastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger niger) Texas fox squirrel (Sciurus niger limitis) upland fox squirrel (Sciurus niger bachmani) eastern Squirrel (Sciurus niger vulpinus) western fox squirrel (Sciurus niger rufiventer) |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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eastern fox squirrel fox squirrel |
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Glossary
Guard hair
A long, straight, coarse hair that projects beyond and lays over ground hairs; the two hair types, sometimes also with awn hairs, comprise the pelage in fur-bearing animals.
Visitor Photos |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Luciearl |
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… I named (her) Elsa. She had 3 baby squirrels that I could watch come out of a hollow in the a tree every morning. Her decendents are still in the neighborhood … |
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Lynn Rubey |
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A Fox Squirrel along a service road in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. The Fox Squirrel is the largest tree squirrel native to North America. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Sciurus niger (Eastern Fox Squirrel) Allen Chartier |
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| Fox Squirrel Dan Dzurisin |
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| Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger HutsonScience |
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About
Published on Sep 18, 2013 Tessa describes the importance of the fox squirrel to the shortgrass prairie. |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Other Videos |
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| Fox Squirrel (Sciurus, niger) Kevin Cavallin |
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About
Uploaded on Nov 6, 2011 This little guy started griping at me while I was filming him. I don't think he was happy with me. |
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| Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciuridae: Sciurus niger) Vocalizing Carl Barrentine |
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About
Uploaded on Oct 23, 2010 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (22 October 2010). Go here to learn more about this species: http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=MA0120 |
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| mammals usa... fox squirrel groenelantaarn |
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About
Published on Sep 2, 2012 Sciurus niger |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Lynn Rubey 6/19/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A Fox Squirrel alng a service road in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. The Fox Squirrel is the largest tree squirrel native to North America. |
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| Luciearl 3/3/2018 |
Location: Lake Shore, MN … I named (her) Elsa. She had 3 baby squirrels that I could watch come out of a hollow in the a tree every morning. Her decendents are still in the neighborhood … |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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