Tree and flying squirrels
Tree and flying squirrels | ||||||||||||
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![]() Eurasian red squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Sciurinae | ||||||||||||
Fischer de Waldheim , 1817 |
The tree squirrels and flying squirrels (Sciurinae) form a subfamily of squirrels (Sciuridae) with a total of 20 genera and around 80 species. In this taxon the tree squirrels (Sciurini) - the most famous representative of which is the Eurasian squirrel - and the flying squirrels (Pteromyini) are combined.
Features and way of life
The tree and flying squirrels are a very diverse group of squirrels, which is shaped by the physique and the way of life of the two included taxa. In principle, they are small to medium-sized rodents, with the smallest species of flying squirrels, the tiny flying squirrels ( Petaurillus ), reaching a body size of 7 cm with a tail length of 6 cm and the largest species, the giant flying squirrels ( Petaurista ), with almost 60 cm Head-torso length and a tail of 65 centimeters are among the largest types of squirrels. Within the tree squirrels, the size varies less, here the body sizes range from 15 centimeters with a tail length of 12 centimeters in the New Worldly dwarf squirrels ( Microsciurus ) to the larger species of squirrels ( Sciurus ) with about 25 centimeters head-trunk length and one Tail also about 25 centimeters.
While the flying squirrels are usually crepuscular to nocturnal, the tree squirrels are all diurnal. In both groups, a predominantly herbivorous diet of fruits, seeds and other parts of plants predominates ; small animals and bird eggs are also eaten less frequently. All species are predominantly arboreal, with the tree squirrels in particular also coming to the ground to forage.
Systematics
Phylogenetic system of the squirrels (Sciuridae) according to Steppan et al. 2004
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Phylogenetic systematics of the squirrels (Sciuridae) according to Mercer & Roth 2003
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Due to their sliding membranes , the sliding squirrels were compared to all other squirrels ("ground squirrels and tree squirrels") in a separate subfamily in older systematics. However, this classification does not reflect the actual relationships of ancestry, since the ground squirrels and tree squirrels formed a paraphyletic group, that is, they did not include all descendants of a common ancestor. Genetic studies led to the conclusion that the flying squirrel and the tree squirrel form a common clade; here the flying squirrels are the sister group of the tree squirrels.
A distinction is made between the following genera:
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Tribe tree squirrel (Sciurini)
- Newworldly miniature squirrel ( Microsciurus )
- Borneo squirrel ( Rheithrosciurus )
- Red squirrel ( Sciurus )
- Central American mountain squirrel ( Syntheosciurus )
- Red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus )
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Tribus flying squirrel (Pteromyini)
- Furrow-tooth flying squirrel ( Aeretes )
- Black flying squirrel ( Aeromys )
- Hairy- footed flying squirrel ( Belomys )
- Biswamoyopterus
- Cashmere flying squirrel ( Eoglaucomys )
- Rock slip squirrel ( Eupetaurus )
- Newworldly flying squirrels ( Glaucomys )
- Horseshoe Flying Squirrel ( Hylopetes )
- Horsfield's flying squirrel ( Iomys )
- Small gliding squirrel ( Petaurillus )
- Giant Sliding Squirrel ( Petaurista )
- Dwarf gliding squirrel ( Petinomys )
- Real flying squirrels ( Pteromys )
- Smoky gray flying squirrel ( Pteromyscus )
- Complex-toothed flying squirrel ( Trogopterus )
supporting documents
- ^ A b Scott J. Steppan, Brian L. Storz, Robert S. Hoffmann: Nuclear DNA phylogeny of the squirrels (Mammalia: Rodentia) and the evolution of arboreality from c-myc and RAG1. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 30, 2004; Pp. 703-719. doi : 10.1016 / S1055-7903 (03) 00204-5 , full text .
- ↑ a b J.M. Mercer, VL Roth: The effects of Cenozoic global change on squirrel phylogeny. Science 299, 2003; Pp. 1568-1572. ( Full text ), doi : 10.1126 / science.1079705
- ↑ Richard W. Thorington , Diane Pitassy, Sharon A. Jansa: Phylogenies of flying squirrels (Pteromyinae). Journal of Mammalian Evolution 9 (1), 2002; Pp. 99-135. doi : 10.1023 / A: 1021335912016 .
- ↑ after Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 .
literature
- Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 .
- Michael D. Carleton, Guy G. Musser: Order Rodentia. In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. Volume 2. 3rd edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 , pp. 745-1600.