Smith's bush squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smith's bush squirrel |
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Paraxerus
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cepapi
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The Smith's bush squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi) is a small, active animal. People also call it the yellow-footed squirrel or tree squirrel. It is a type of African bush squirrel. These squirrels live in the forests and woodlands of southern Africa.
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Where Do Smith's Bush Squirrels Live?
You can find these squirrels in many countries. They live in Angola, Botswana, and the DRCongo. They are also found in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. You can see them in Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. They are very common rodents. These squirrels are active during the day.
What Do Smith's Bush Squirrels Look Like?
A full-grown Smith's bush squirrel is about 350 mm long. Half of this length is its long tail. These squirrels are quite light, weighing only about 200 g. Their fur color changes depending on where they live.
In drier, western areas, their fur is light grey. In eastern areas, it is more brown. Their head and legs often have a reddish-brown color. The color of their chest can be yellowish or buff in the east. In the west, their chest is usually white. Their belly is always white. These squirrels are always alert and busy. They carry their long tails stretched out behind them.
What Do Smith's Bush Squirrels Eat?
Smith's bush squirrels mainly eat plants. But like many rodents, they also eat insects. They use their front paws to hold food while they eat. They hide seeds near tree trunks or clumps of grass. This helps new trees to grow.
Reproduction and Family Life
These squirrels spend a lot of time in trees. But they also spend time on the ground looking for food. If something scares them, they quickly run back into a tree for safety. At night, groups of family members sleep together. They nest in holes found in trees.
Young squirrels become ready to have their own babies when they are six to nine months old. At this age, their parents make them leave the family group. Male squirrels usually protect their home area. However, females will also chase away other squirrels when they have young pups.
To stay close as a group, they share a common smell. They do this by grooming each other. This is a very important part of their social life. Mother squirrels are very careful when grooming their babies. They hold the baby down with their front legs. Then, they clean it by licking, nibbling, and scratching with their claws.
How Do Smith's Bush Squirrels Stay Safe?
When these squirrels feel threatened, they have a special way of acting. This is called 'mobbing'. All the squirrels in the group make loud clicking sounds. They also flick their tails. They get louder and faster as they do this.
In some places, these squirrels live alone or in small family groups. A single squirrel relies on its cleverness when in danger. It always tries to keep a tree branch or trunk between itself and any enemy. Smith's bush squirrels are always watchful. If they get scared, they run away very fast. They head for the closest tree. Once in the tree, they lie still and flat against a branch.
