| -- Jumpers/ climbers can spend time among various levels of trees and ground, require strong hindlimbs and forelimbs, may sleep and feed in different locations, require high energy intake, quick reaction time. ex. S.carolinensis, S. niger. |
| -- Gliders all mammalian gliders are nocturnal and all large gliders are folivores. smaller species are frugifores-insectivores ex. G. volans. allows for energetically cheap, rapid transit between trees. eases escape from predators by allowing a drop from the trees without injury. lifestyle is widespread in the Asian tropics but in Africa only in one small family of rodents and in Central America in one group of frogs. (Emmons and Gentry 1983) |
| -- Prehensile tails help in traveling across tree branches, increase reach between branches or to food items. increase stability options of animal on slippery leaf structures for example palm leaves. |
| -- Slender climbers often reptilian, species can have greater surface for weight distribution on branches. ectotherms don't require as high an energy intake as mammal neighbors, therefore they may live entire life cycles arboreally utilizing the sit and wait method. grip on branch is increased, weight may be little or great. reach to food items may increase with body length. |
More About Squirrels..
Who are the squirrels? - Where do they live? - How do they live there? - How do they locomote?(Morphology) - How do they locomote?(Limb function) - How do they "fly"?(Wing structure) - How do they eat? -How do you know so much? (Links and References) - Tree Squirrel Home - Animal Phys. Home - Davidson Home
Sarah Muffelman, squirrel nut!