Knowra Tree squirrel Tree squirrel A squirrel that spends most of its life and foraging time in trees. Tree squirrels include several genera and are distinct from ground squirrels and flying squirrels.
Squirrel : A rodent in the family Sciuridae, which includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, and marmots. Tree squirrels are one branch of this broader family.
Squirrel locomotion : The ways squirrels move, including walking, climbing, leaping, and descending tree trunks. Its climbing and leaping behaviors let tree squirrels cross branches and gaps.
Seed dispersal : The movement of seeds away from parent plants, enabling plants to spread and reproduce. Forgotten caches can germinate and help disperse trees.
Ground squirrel : A squirrel that primarily lives in burrows or on the ground rather than in trees. Ground squirrels occupy the terrestrial niche that distinguishes tree squirrels.
Sciuridae : The rodent family that includes squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs. Its classification places tree squirrels among their closest relatives.
Squirrel caching behavior : The behavior of hiding food for later consumption, often in scattered locations. Tree squirrels store nuts and seeds in caches, then recover some later.
Forest regeneration : The renewal of forest vegetation through seedling establishment and regrowth. Seed burial by tree squirrels can contribute to the next generation of trees.
Flying squirrel : A squirrel that glides between elevated surfaces using a membrane stretched between its limbs. Flying squirrels are arboreal too, but glide rather than relying only on powered leaps.
Arboreal locomotion : Movement through trees using branches, trunks, and other elevated supports. Tree squirrels are adapted to travel through a three-dimensional canopy.
Scatter-hoarding : Food storage in many small, dispersed caches rather than one central store. This is a common caching strategy among tree squirrels that gather nuts.
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