Rock squirrels are a unique species of squirrels in China. They are extremely reproductive and can have up to 8 cubs in one litter, so they are so numerous that they have even posed a hazard to the growth of crops in many areas. Let's learn about the little knowledge of rock squirrels today!

I. Basic information

[Chinese name] Rock squirrel

[Another name] Sweeping hair, stone Mouse

【English name】David's rock squirrel

【Latin name】Sciurotamias davidianus

【Kingdom】Animal Kingdom

【Door】 Chordate

【Subphylum】Vertebrate Subphylum

【Class】Mammalia

【Subclass】Zeuthera

【Order】Rodentes

【Family】Sciuridae

【Subfamily】Sciuridae

【Genus】Sciuridae

[Species] Rock squirrel

II. Morphological characteristics

1. Body type: Rock squirrel body type Medium, body length about 210mm. The tail length is shorter than the body length, but more than half of the body length. The tail hair is fluffy and sparser than the back hair. The forefoot has 3 finger pads and 2 palm pads. The hind foot has no metatarsal pads and four toe pads. Buccal pouch in the mouth. The 2nd to 5th fingers of the forefoot are developed; the 1st finger is degenerate, only a thyroid protrusion is retained, and the hindfoot has 5 toes.

2. Body color: The whole body of the rock squirrel is gray-black-yellow from the head to the base of the tail and the tip of the tail. The base of the back hair is gray, the tip of the hair is light yellow, and a certain number of all-black needle hairs are mixed in the middle. The abdominal hair is thinner and softer than the back hair, the base of the hair is also gray, and the tip of the hair is yellow-white. The hair around the eyes is white, forming thin white circles. The hair behind the ears is white, the hair on the lower jaw is white, and the whiskers are black. The muzzle reaches to the eye and back to the auricle with a yellowish color, vaguely like a yellow stripe. The rest of the head is darker than the back. The tail hair is white and long and fluffy like the back hair. The tip of the tail hair is white, and when the tail is rolled up, two white edges are formed, which are easy to identify.

III. Distribution and habits

1. Distribution: Rock squirrels are endemic to China, only distributed in China (Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Liaoning, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin, Yunnan).

2. Habitat environment: Rock squirrels are semi-arboreal and semi-terrestrial squirrels, mostly inhabiting pine forests, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, broad-leaved forests, etc. Fruit forests (walnuts, chestnuts and other dried fruits), shrub forests and other open but not very closed habitats are almost invisible at higher altitudes and where the trees are very dense.

3. Diet: Rock squirrels like to eat oily dried fruits, such as pine nuts, walnuts, walnuts, apricots, chestnuts, etc. are their favorite foods, and they can steal grains, etc. crop.

IV. Reproduction status

Rock squirrels usually breed once a year and mate in spring. Each litter can produce 2 to 5 cubs, with a maximum of 8 cubs. Young mice appeared in June, and the number peaked in late autumn.

The above is some little knowledge about rock squirrels. If you have any curious questions, you can leave a message below to discuss!