Deppe's squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deppe's squirrel |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sciurus
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| Species: |
deppei
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| Deppe's squirrel range | |
The Deppe's squirrel (scientific name: Sciurus deppei) is a type of tree squirrel. It lives in parts of Central America and Mexico. You can find these squirrels in countries like Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Contents
What Does Deppe's Squirrel Look Like?
Deppe's squirrels can have different colors. Their bodies are usually gray, yellowish-brown, or a rusty brown. Their faces are gray. Their legs can be dark gray or rust-colored.
The top of their tail is black with some white hairs mixed in. The underside of the tail is yellowish-orange to a rust color. The very tip of their tail has white hairs. Their fur usually stays the same color all year. However, the white tip on their tail and patches of hair behind their ears might disappear in the summer.
How Big Are They?
Deppe's squirrels are similar in size for both males and females. Females are usually a little bit bigger. An average female weighs about 287 grams (about 10 ounces). Her body is around 21 centimeters (8.3 inches) long, and her tail is about 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) long. Males are slightly smaller.
Where Do Deppe's Squirrels Live?
Deppe's squirrels live in many areas. Their home range overlaps with other squirrel species. You can find them in parts of Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Chiapas.
Squirrels Near Ancient Ruins
These squirrels can even be seen around the ancient Mayan ruins in Tikal National Park in Guatemala. Scientists have studied if human visitors affect these squirrels. They found more Deppe's squirrels near the ruins than in areas without many people. This suggests they can adapt well to some human activity. The number of Deppe's squirrels in the wild is currently stable.
What Kind of Home Do They Like?
Deppe's squirrels are known as "habitat generalists." This means they can live in many different types of environments. They especially like lowland areas. These areas often have damp tropical forests with lots of plants. Because they live in Mesoamerica, which has many different climates, you can find these squirrels in various habitats.
How Do Deppe's Squirrels Behave?
Deppe's squirrels are very active during the day. This means they are diurnal. They spend most of their time in trees, which means they are arboreal. However, they also spend a lot of time (30-60%) on the ground looking for food.
What Do They Eat?
When they are on the ground, they search for food. Their diet includes seeds, nuts, buds, insects, and fruits.
Social Life and Calls
These squirrels are not very social. They usually stay in very small groups. They are generally quiet. But if an intruder comes into their area, they will make a high-pitched call. They also flick their tails when they are alarmed. Because they are so quiet and their color helps them blend in with tree trunks, they are very hard to spot when they are not moving. Their camouflage is excellent!
How Do Deppe's Squirrels Reproduce?
Deppe's squirrels can have babies all year round. However, they are most often seen reproducing around the end of the dry season. A mother squirrel can have anywhere from 2 to 8 young at a time. On average, they usually have about 4 babies in a litter.
