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Taxa

Sciurus

Mammal Genera

Sciurus is a genus of tree squirrel that contains most of the common, bushy tailed squirrels of North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America. A 2005 classification recognized 28 species within the genus, though a 2020 genetic revision split Sciurus into several new genera and elevated subgenera, reducing the number of species still placed in Sciurus proper under that framework, with the exact count depending on which taxonomic treatment is followed. The genus remains the most familiar and widespread group of tree squirrels across its range.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Genus 2
Member Count Band
10 to 100 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Paleogene 4
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Red squirrel, Species
Source Red squirrel (Wikidata)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Sciurus (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
The genus Sciurus ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
Central America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Sciurus (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
The genus Sciurus ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
Europe

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Sciurus (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
The genus Sciurus ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Sciurus (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
The genus Sciurus ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
South America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Sciurus (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
The genus Sciurus ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ18215502, descriptionView the Source
2. Sciurus (Wikipedia)
  • Introduction
    The genus Sciurus ( or ) contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
  • Taxonomic rank (structure-wave classification, ruling 761/926)
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Sciurus
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 28
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Sciurus
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Sciurus" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 41.03 ... "early_interval": "Bartonian"
View the Source
Wikidata: Sciurus
Wikidata Q281124, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Red squirrel (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Red squirrel, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q281124 (Sciurus)View the Source
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