Abert’s Squirrel
Abert’s squirrels are found sporadically throughout the Rocky Mountains, from Arizona to Mexico. They are named in honor of Col. John James Abert, an American soldier, and naturalist.
Abert’s Squirrel
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Sciuridae |
| Genus | Sciurus |
| Subgenus | Otosciurus |
| Scientific Name | Sciurus aberti |
Quick Information
| Also known as | Tassel-eared squirrel |
| Description | Size: They reach a total length of around 17.8-22.8 in (45-58 cm), the tail adds another 7.5-9.8 in (19-25 m) Weight: Their average weight is usually 21.9 oz (620 g) Color: Varies between subspecies; usually a grey fur with a white ventral side and a conspicuous rust colored stripe on their back; some subspecies are entirely black |
| Distribution & Subspecies | Sciurus aberti aberti: Northern Arizona S. a. chuscensis: Arizona-New Mexico border S. a. kaibabensis: Kaibab Platue in Arizona S. a. mimus: New Mexico-Colorado border S. a. ferreus: The Rocky Mountains in Central Colorado S. a. navajo: Southeastern Utah S. a. barberi: Northwestern Chihuahua S. a. durangi: Durango S. a. phaeurus: Southern Chihuahua and Durango |
| Habitat | Most abundant in ponderosa pine forests, but may also be seen in mixed forests, especially in New Mexico and Mexico |
| Sounds & Communication | They use a variety of sounds like squeals, screeches, clucks, barks; also communicate through visual means and touch |
| Lifespan | Data regarding life-expectancy in the wild is deficient; a captive individual lived for seven years |
| Diet | Feeds on ponderosa pine tree parts like seeds, cones, buds, fungi, and the inner bark; in areas where this tree is not available, they exhibit similar feeding habits but from different trees |
| Adaptations | Since they spend most of their time on trees, they have a light and agile frame that helps them climb and leap from one branch to another; they shed their thick coat and tasseled ears during summer to keep up with the changing climate |
| Predators | Coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, and northern goshawks prey on these rodents |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Abert’s Squirrel Images
Abert’s Squirrels
Behavior
These squirrels are diurnal, becoming active a little before sunrise, and returning to their nest before sunset, foraging at intervals throughout the day. They build these shelters or nests on dwarf-mistletoe infected twigs in ponderosa pine trees. They are not territorial but remain solitary from late spring to autumn.
Mating & Reproduction
During mating season, which occurs between February and June, male Abert’s squirrels led by a dominant individual ‘chase’ after a female through the forest for hours. Females are promiscuous and copulate with multiple partners. The gestation period is around 43 days, ending with a litter of one to five newborns.
Life-cycle
The babies are about 0.43 oz (12 g) at birth. They are weaned after around 70-76 days and weigh 12.5 oz (355 g) by this time. They reach sexual maturity when they are around 327 days old.
Abert’s Squirrel
Abert Squirrel
Interesting Facts
- The mule deer takes advantage of the Abert’s squirrel’s arboreal feeding habits; as soon as the latter drops something from high up in the tree, the mule deer waiting at the bottom eats it up.
- Ponderosa pines produce a pungent chemical called terpene to dissuade these rodents from feeding on its parts.
Abert Squirrels
Abert Squirrel Pictures
References:
Published on May 24th 2018 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.
