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Sciuridae
| Description | Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including groundhogs), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs amongst other rodents. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, and were introduced by humans to Australia. The earliest known fossilized squirrels date from the Eocene period and are most closely related to the mountain beaver and to the dormouse among other living rodent families. From Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciuridae, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source Data |
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| Rank | family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy (GBIF,PBDB) | Life : Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Rodentia : Sciuridae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomic Status (GBIF) | accepted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification (PBDB,GBIF) |
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| Common Name | squirrel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific Name | Sciuridae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name Published In | Adversaria zoologica p.408 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opinions (PBDB) |
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| Status (PBDB) | extant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxon Size (PBDB) | 317 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extant Size (PBDB) | 144 (45%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Recorded Appearance | 46.2 - 40.4 Ma Eocene | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Environment | terrestrial (based on Eutheria) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motility | actively mobile (based on Osteichthyes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diet | granivore, frugivore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ecospace Comments | life habit and diet based on Nowak 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taphonomy | phosphatic (based on Vertebrata) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary Reference (PBDB) | J. E. Gray. 1821. On the natural arrangement of vertebrose animals. The London Medical Repository Monthly Journal and Review 15:296-310 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Name(s) | Ekorrar, Squirrels, Squirrel, Eekhoorns, Chipmunks, Marmots | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciuridae |
External Images
Fossil Distribution
Subtaxa
| Name | Status | Common Name(s) | Fossil Occurrences | Oldest | Youngest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedromurinae ✝ subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 37 | 37.2 Ma Eocene | 23.0 Ma Miocene | |
| Pteromyinae subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 126 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Blackiini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 52 | 28.4 Ma Oligocene | 3.20 Ma Pliocene | |
| Callosciurini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 15 | 8.70 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Funambulini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
 Marmotinitribe | listed (PBDB) | 867 | 37.2 Ma Eocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Protoxerini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 16 | 11.6 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Pteromyini ✝ tribe | listed (PBDB) | 4 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 5.33 Ma Miocene | |
| Ratufini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 5 | 28.4 Ma Oligocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Sciurini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 135 | 41.3 Ma Eocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Tamiasciurini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 33 | 5.33 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Xerini tribe | listed (PBDB) | 45 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Aeretes genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Chinese Flying Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Aeromys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Large Black Flying Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Albanensia ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 15 | 16.0 Ma Miocene | 8.70 Ma Miocene | |
| Aliveria ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 8 | 20.4 Ma Miocene | 16.9 Ma Miocene | |
| Ammospermophilus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Antelope Squirrel | 22 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Arctomyoides ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 23.0 Ma Miocene | |
| Atlantoxerus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 28 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Belomys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 0.78 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Biswamoyopterus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Blackia ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 52 | 28.4 Ma Oligocene | 3.20 Ma Pliocene | |
| Callosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Tree Squirrel | 5 | 8.70 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Callospermophilus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Cedromus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 20 | 37.2 Ma Eocene | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | |
| Comtia ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 28.4 Ma Oligocene | 28.4 Ma Oligocene | |
| Cynomyoides ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 13.6 Ma Miocene | 13.6 Ma Miocene | |
 Cynomysgenus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Prairie Dog | 85 | 16.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Douglassciurus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 13 | 46.2 Ma Eocene | 33.3 Ma Oligocene | |
| Dremomys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Red-cheeked Squirrel | 6 | 8.70 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Eoglaucomys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Epixerus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Splendid-tailed Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Eupetaurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Woolly Flying Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Eutamias genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Chipmunk | 29 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Exilisciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Asian Pygmy Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Forsythia ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 6 | 16.9 Ma Miocene | 8.70 Ma Miocene | |
| Funambulus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Palm Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Funisciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Rope Squirrel | 2 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Glaucomys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Flying Squirrel | 49 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Glyphotes genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sculptor Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Heliosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sun Squirrel | 1 | 0.01 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Hesperopetes ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 4 | 37.2 Ma Eocene | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | |
| Heteroxerus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 83 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 11.6 Ma Miocene | |
| Hylopetes genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 19 | 16.9 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Hyosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Ictidomys genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Iomys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Kherem ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 10 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 23.0 Ma Miocene | |
| Lariscus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Asian Striped Ground Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Marmota genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Marmot | 115 | 10.3 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Menetes genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Indochinese Ground Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Microsciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Dwarf Squirrel | 1 | 0.01 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Miopetaurista ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 42 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 3.20 Ma Pliocene | |
| Miosciurus ✝ genus | doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | |
| Miospermophilus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 52 | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | 13.6 Ma Miocene | |
| Myosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Nannosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Black-eared Pygmy Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Notocitellus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Nototamias ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 28 | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | 20.4 Ma Miocene | |
| Oligosciurus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | |
| Oligospermophilus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 7 | 37.2 Ma Eocene | 33.3 Ma Oligocene | |
| Otospermophilus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Paenemarmota ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 24 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 4.90 Ma Pliocene | |
| Palaearctomys ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | ||||
| Palaeosciurus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 47 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 13.7 Ma Miocene | |
| Parapaenemarmota ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 10.3 Ma Miocene | 10.3 Ma Miocene | |
| Paratamias ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 10.3 Ma Miocene | 10.3 Ma Miocene | |
| Paraxerus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | African Bush Squirrel | 11 | 11.6 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Petaurillus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Pygmy Flying Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
 Petauristagenus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Giant Flying Squirrel | 3 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Petauristodon genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 43 | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Petinomys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Small Flying Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Plesiosciurus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 7 | 28.4 Ma Oligocene | 23.0 Ma Miocene | |
| Pliopetaurista ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 30 | 11.6 Ma Miocene | 3.20 Ma Pliocene | |
| Pliopetes ✝ genus | doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 5 | 8.70 Ma Miocene | 3.20 Ma Pliocene | |
| Pliosciuropterus ✝ genus | doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | ||||
| Poliocitellus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Prosciurillus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sulawesi Tree Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Prospermophilus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 5.33 Ma Miocene | 5.33 Ma Miocene | |
| Protosciurus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 13 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 16.0 Ma Miocene | |
| Protospermophilus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 65 | 30.8 Ma Oligocene | 8.70 Ma Miocene | |
| Protoxerus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | African Giant Squirrel | 2 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Pteromys genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Eurasian Flying Squirrel | 1 | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Pteromyscus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Smoky Flying Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Ratufa genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Asian Giant Squirrel | 5 | 28.4 Ma Oligocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Rheithrosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Tassle-eared Ground Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Rhinosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Ant-eating Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Rubrisciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sulawesi Giant Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Sabara genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Sciurillus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Pygmy Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Sciurion ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 20.4 Ma Miocene | 20.4 Ma Miocene | |
| Sciurotamias genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Chinese Rock Squirrel | 11 | 9.70 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Sciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Squirrel | 126 | 41.3 Ma Eocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Similisciurus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 24.8 Ma Oligocene | 24.8 Ma Oligocene | |
| Spermophilinus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 90 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 5.33 Ma Miocene | |
| Spermophilopsis genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Long-clawed Ground Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Spermophilus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Ground Squirrel | 393 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Sundasciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sunda Squirrel | 1 | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Syntheosciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Central American Montane Squirrel | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Tamias genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Chipmunk | 69 | 20.4 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Tamiasciurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 33 | 5.33 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Tamiops genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Asian Striped Squirrel | 3 | 8.70 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Trogopterus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Complex-toothed Flying Squirrel | 2 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Urocitellus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Vulcanisciurus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 20.4 Ma Miocene | |
| Xerospermophilus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Xerus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | African Ground Squirrel | 16 | 16.9 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
Synonymy List
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1821 | Sciuridae Gray |
| 1821 | Sciurinae Gray |
| 1821 | Sciuridae Gray p. 304 |
| 1850 | Sciuridae Bonaparte p. 1 |
| 1873 | Sciuridae Leidy p. 335 |
| 1883 | Sciuridae Flower p. 185 |
| 1889 | Sciuridae Cope p. 876 |
| 1898 | Sciuridae Gadow p. 43 |
| 1902 | Sciuridae Hay p. 718 |
| 1902 | Sciurinae Hay p. 719 |
| 1908 | Sciuridae Lambe |
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1911 | Sciuridae Jaekel p. 222 |
| 1965 | Sciuridae Ray |
| 1966 | Sciuridae Johnson p. 80 |
| 1980 | Sciuridae Kurten and Anderson p. 210 |
| 1988 | Sciuridae Carroll |
| 1991 | Sciuridae Nowak |
| 1999 | Sciuridae Nowak |
| 2002 | Sciuridae Montgelard et al. p. 228 |
| 2005 | Sciuridae Emry et al. p. 228 |
| 2014 | Sciurinae Korth p. 377 |
| 2014 | Sciuridae Vianey-Liaud et al. p. 602 |
References
Data courtesy of: PBDB: The Paleobiology Database, Creative Commons CC-BY licenced. , GBIF: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, various licences, iDigBio, various licences, and EOL: The Encyclopedia of Life (Open Data Public Domain). Because fossils are made of minerals too!
