松鼠科 Sciuridae (Sub-family of Rodentia)

松鼠科（Sciuridar）,源自希臘文 σκίουρος (skíouros, 「松鼠」),意指這些動物與松鼠有關.

Sciuridae, from Greek σκίουρος (skíouros, “squirrel”), in reference to the fact that these animals are squirrel-related.

種的俗名 Common names of members

樹松鼠,地松鼠,花栗鼠,草原犬鼠,鼯鼠.

Tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, flying squirrels.

分佈 Distribution

美洲、歐亞和非洲.

The Americas, Eurasia, and Africa.

體型 Size

牠們是典型的小型動物,不同品種的體型從 10-14 公分長、12-26 克重到 1.27 公尺長、8 公斤重不等.

They are typically small animals, with sizes varying between species from 10–14 cm in length and 12–26 g in weight to 1.27 m in length and 8 kg in weight.

形態描述 Morphology

這些動物的身體通常細長,擁有大大的眼睛和長而蓬鬆的尾巴.牠們的毛皮通常柔軟絲滑,但也有一些物種的毛皮明顯比其他物種更加厚實.

Their bodies are usually thin, and they have huge eyes and long, bushy tails. Their fur is often silky and velvety, though several species have significantly thicker fur than others.

生態與棲息地 Habitat & Ecology

牠們只避開極地和最乾旱的沙漠地區,他們可以生活在從熱帶雨林到半乾旱沙漠等幾乎所有類型的環境中.

They only stay away from the extreme polar areas and the driest deserts, living in nearly every type of environment from tropical rainforests to semiarid deserts.

食性 Diet

雖然牠們大多以各種植物、堅果、種子、針葉樹球果和水果為食,但許多牠們也會吃微小的脊椎動物、真菌、昆蟲和鳥蛋.

Although they mostly feed on a wide range of plants, nuts, seeds, conifer cones, and fruits, many of them will also consume tiny vertebrates, fungus, insects, and bird eggs.

繁殖 Reproduction

每年交配一到兩次,經過三到六週的妊娠期後,牠們會生下許多因種類而異的幼崽.幼崽剛出生時沒有牙齒、全身赤裸,也沒有視覺.大多數物種的幼崽都是由雌性撫養；幼崽在六到十周時斷奶,並在第一年年底達到性成熟.生活在樹上的品種傾向於較為獨居,而生活在地面上的品種通常較為群居,並經常形成完善的族群.

After mating once or twice a year and going through a three- to six-week gestation phase, they give birth to a number of young that differ depending on the species. The young are altricial; they are born toothless, naked, and without eyes. The young of the majority of species are raised exclusively by the female; they are weaned at six to ten weeks and reach sexual maturity by the end of their first year. While the species that live in trees tend to be more solitary, those that live on the ground are typically more gregarious and frequently form well-established colonies.