Squirrel Question

Vulpes

Vulpes

Well-Known Member
I was recently at an animal park in the pyreneese in France. it is a lovely park displaying only animals found in the region. They have a fantastic enclosure for red squirrels. I was a bit confused about the colours of the squirrels! they had some that were like what I would call "Red Squirrels" and then they had much darker squirrels with bigger tufts. are these a colour varient of the region? and if so why are there still the "Red" Squirrels?

IMG_0758.jpg


IMG_0699.jpg
 
The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has different morphs (red, brown in differnt intensity till almost black), but it is still just one species, just like black and spotted jaguars. In the area near my village, there is slightly more dark squirrels then the typical red ones.
Try this link to see some different coloured Red Squirrels, found orphaned in one nest.
 
The red squirrel is a variable species. The British race is noted for the bleaching of its fur, particularly on the tail, during the summer. On the other hand I remember seeing seeing a wild black red squirrel (if you see what I mean) when I visited Hellabrunn in Munich: I guess many members here will have seen similar ones.
The thickness of the hairs on the tail and the ear tufts also vary during the year - I wonder if the the individual in the second shot was moulting its body fur.

Alan
 
Thanks for the reply guys. these pics were taken last wednesday, so unless the second one was just growing its new winter coat?
 
gentle lemur said:
On the other hand I remember seeing seeing a wild black red squirrel (if you see what I mean) when I visited Hellabrunn in Munich: I guess many members here will have seen similar ones.
The thickness of the hairs on the tail and the ear tufts also vary during the year - I wonder if the the individual in the second shot was moulting its body fur.

Alan
Click to expand...

In Nurnberg Zoo many years ago I saw three different colour morphs hopping around- red, black and chocolate brown. Continental reds are larger and a lot bolder than the British race too.

You are right that the 'grey' coloured animal in the photo was possibly about to moult as the red color fades(bleaches) over the year. British red squirrels also sometimes show this trait( and get confused with grey squirrels in the process) as well as the bleaching of the tail and ear tufts -though as you probably know, these latter two characteristics are confined to the British race and not found in Continentals.
 
This has to be one of the best squirrel exhibits in Europe! it is open topped and gives fantastic oppertunities foe photographs. I have to say the Darker red is very attractive. almost prevost like!
 
Question for Vulpes - where was the park you visited . I went to Les Angles Animal Park in the French Pyrennees last month which also displays local mammals but did not see a squirrel exhibit there . I did see a wild red squirrel just outside the Park though .
 
The creatures look very unique, how much of the population of red squirrels have rabies?
 
No Vulpes , the one I visited was at Les Angles - I posted some notes and web-site details in the France section .
 
BTW - black morph of red squirrels tends to be more common or dominant in the mountains. At least in Central Europe, not sure about Pyrennees.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top