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    Sciurus – Tree squirrels

    The common, bushy-tailed squirrels that live in Europe, North America, temperate Asia, and Central & South America

    Those squirrels you might have seen in gardens and parks? It’s us! The name Sciurus comes from two Greek words: ‘Skia,’ meaning shadow, and ‘oura,’ meaning tail, which refers to its habit of pulling its tail over its head and hiding in its tail’s shadow.

    The genus is closely related to chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs. Nearly all its members prefer an arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyle, with some even developing false wings to aid them in flying between treetops, i.e., the flying squirrel. Moreover, these squirrel species are found on all continents except Antarctica and Oceania.