Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide(The Animal Answer Guides: Q&A for the Curious Naturalist)

Did you know that a groundhog is really a type of squirrel? That squirrels control their body temperature with their tails? That most squirrels have yellow-tinted eye lenses that work like sunglasses to reduce glare? That tree squirrels can turn their hind feet completely around when climbing down a tree head-first? In Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide, Richard W. Thorington Jr. and Katie Ferrell unveil the fascinating world of one of the "most watched" mammals on the planet. The diversity of squirrels is astounding. There are 278 species that inhabit all continents except Antarctica and Australia-varying in size from the lumbering 18-pound gray marmot to the graceful pygmy flying squirrel that is smaller than most mice. In many parts of the world they readily share human habitats, joining us for lunch in a city park, raiding our bird feeders, and sneaking into college dorm rooms through open windows. Reviled as pests or loved as an endearing amusement, squirrels have played important roles in trade, literature, and mythology. Thorington and Ferrell cover every aspect of this diverse animal family, from the first squirrels of 36 million years ago to the present day. With over one hundred photographs and an intuitive question-and-answer format, this authoritative and engaging guide sheds light on a common mammal that is anything but commonplace.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Introducing Squirrels What are squirrels? How many kinds of squirrels are there? Where do squirrels live? Why are there no flying or ground squirrels in South America? How are squirrels classified? What is the current classification of squirrels? What characterizes the major groups of squirrels When did squirrels evolve? What is the oldest fossil squirrel? 2. Form and Function What are the largest and smallest squirrels? How fast does a squirrel's heart beat? Can squirrels see color? Do all squirrels have cheek pouches? Can squirrels swim? How far can squirrels jump? Do squirrels fly? What are the largest and smallest flying squirrels? How do you make a flying squirrel? How far can flying squirrels glide? How can you determine whether a fossil squirrel was a tree squirrel, a flying squirrel, or a ground squirrel? 3. Coat Color and Squirrel Genetics What species are the black squirrels I see? What species is the red squirrel? What causes the different coat colors of squirrels? How are hair colors determined genetically? What about patterns of coat color? Are there age-related differences in coat color? Are there seasonal differences in coat color? Is there much geographic variation in squirrel species? 4. Squirrel Behavior Are squirrels social? Do squirrels fight? How smart are squirrels? Do squirrels play? Do squirrels talk? How do squirrels avoid predators? 5. Squirrel Ecology Where do squirrels sleep? Do squirrels migrate? How many squirrel species coexist in a forest? Why are there so many more species of squirrels in African and Asian forests? How do squirrels survive in the desert? How do squirrels survive the winter? What is hibernation? Do squirrels have enemies? Why do squirrels commit infanticide? Do squirrels get sick? How do squirrels influence vegetation? 6. Reproduction and Development How do squirrels reproduce? How long are female squirrels pregnant? Where do mother squirrels give birth? How many babies do squirrels have? Are all littermates equally related? How long do female squirrels nurse their young? How fast do squirrels grow? How long do squirrels live? 7. Food and Feeding What do squirrels eat? How do squirrels open hard nuts? Do all squirrels bury their food? How does the squirrel decide what food to store? How do squirrels fi nd the food they have buried? 8. Squirrels and Humans Do squirrels make good pets? Should people feed squirrels? Do squirrels feel pain? What do I do if I find an injured or orphaned squirrel? How can I become a better observer of squirrels? How do I know whether I have flying squirrels in my backyard? Why are squirrels important? 9. Squirrel Problems (from a human viewpoint) Are squirrels pests? How do I keep squirrels away from my . . . ? Are squirrels vectors of human disease? 10. Human Problems (from a squirrel's viewpoint) Are squirrels endangered? Will squirrels be affected by global warming? Are squirrels ever invasive species? Do people hunt and eat squirrels? Are squirrel-hair brushes actually made of squirrel hair? Why do so many squirrels get hit by cars? 11. Squirrels in Stories and Literature What roles do squirrels play in religion and mythology? What do squirrels have to do with the Cinderella story? What roles do squirrels play in popular culture? How are squirrels incorporated into poetry? How are squirrels incorporated into literature? 12. "Squirrelology" Which species are best known? Which species are least known? How do scientists recognize individual squirrels? Appendix: Squirrels of the World Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Richard W. Thorington, Jr. is a curator of mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. For many years Katie Ferrell was Dr. Thorington's research assistant at the Smithsonian.

Review :
A completely authoritative scholarly guide to the biology of a group of organisms and... a completely readable, fully illustrated, and fascinating introduction for the general public. National Museum of Natural History Weekly Update & Forecast Got squirrels? This book has answers. This is not a children's book... read it with an adult. Fun for all ages. Washington Post Only a master at both scholarship and communication could pull this off as eloquently and clearly as Thorington and Ferrell have done. Natural History News A deft account, for backyard naturalists and scientists both. Harvard Magazine You may enjoy watching these acrobatic characters... [Thorington and Ferrell] will make them more interesting to observe. Tuscaloosa News Unravels the mysteries of the 278 species of squirrels that inhabit the planet... this is a must read. Princeton Alumni Weekly Well written and organized and contains numerous color and black-and-white photos. Wildlife Activist It's rare to see all the science of a college text embedded into a lively presentation also geared for the general audience-but here, it works very well. California Bookwatch Eminently interesting. -- Susan Lumenello Colloquy This engaging guide sheds light on a common mammal that is anything but commonplace. Wildlife Conservation In this wide-ranging, accurate, and revealing approach to the subject, squirrels are placed in a world-wide context. -- Kim Long Bloomsbury Review Fascinating book sure to entertain readers of all ages and backgrounds. Internet Bookwatch Thorington and Ferrell have succeeded in producing a short, accessible guide that is of tremendous value to both the scientist and the amateur naturalist alike. -- Michael A. Steele Journal of Mammalian Evolution What a treat. Buy it, read it, but don't squirrel it away-pass it on! -- William L. Gannon Journal of Mammalogy An accessible account of the large and diverse squirrel family... this book will appeal to the general public and scientists alike. Southeastern Naturalist This book is an answer to all questions relative to the American squirrels. -- Francis Petter Mammalia