The feet, which include an often poorly developed thumb, have soft pads on the undersides and versatile, sturdy claws for grasping and climbing. In most squirrel species, the hind limbs are longer than the fore limbs, while all species have either four or five toes on each foot. The coat color of squirrels is highly variable between-and often even within-species. In general, their fur is soft and silky, though much thicker in some species than others. Squirrels typically have slender bodies with very long very bushy tails and large eyes. Squirrels are generally small animals, ranging in size from the African pygmy squirrel and least pygmy squirrel at 10–14 cm (3.9–5.5 in) in total length and just 12–26 g (0.42–0.92 oz) in weight, to the Bhutan giant flying squirrel at up to 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in) in total length, and several marmot species, which can weigh 8 kg (18 lb) or more. Skull of an Oriental giant squirrel (genus Ratufa)-note the classic sciuromorphous shape of the anterior zygomatic region. Characteristics Reaching out for food on a garden bird feeder, this squirrel can rotate its hind feet, allowing it to descend a tree head-first. The Old English word is of Common Germanic origin, cognates of which are still used in other Germanic languages, including the German Eichhörnchen (diminutive of Eichhorn, which is not as frequently used) the Norwegian ikorn/ ekorn the Dutch eekhoorn the Swedish ekorre and the Danish egern.Ī group of squirrels is called a "dray" or a "scurry". The native Old English word for the squirrel, ācweorna, only survived into Middle English (as aquerne) before being replaced. The word squirrel, first attested in 1327, comes from the Anglo-Norman esquirel which is from the Old French escurel, the reflex of a Latin word sciurus, which was taken from the Ancient Greek word σκίουρος ( skiouros from σκία-ουρος) 'shadow-tailed', referring to the long bushy tail which many of its members have. The earliest known fossilized squirrels date from the Eocene epoch, and among other living rodent families, the squirrels are most closely related to the mountain beaver and to the dormice. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, and were introduced by humans to Australia. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Make sure your loops stay anchored around your broom handles.Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae ( / s ɪ ˈ j uː r ɪ d eɪ, - d iː/), a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. To achieve the tension necessary to throw a projectile, you must finish lacing by going through the frame holes, around the broom handles in loops, and over and under the throwing arm.
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