Fun Tufted Pygmy Squirrel Facts For Kids
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The tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) or the whitehead's pygmy squirrel is a tiny species, which belongs to the family Sciuridae. The common name of this species describes its distinct white ear-tufts.
It gives them a very unique appearance among squirrels. Being small does not take away from the intelligence of the tufted pygmy squirrel, as they use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to navigate in the forests and thrive in general. Pygmy squirrels are among the smallest squirrels in the world.
In fact, the smallest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel. The tufted pygmy squirrel is no different, with its body measuring under 3.35 in (8.5 cm).
Read on to learn more about this adorably tiny squirrel. If you enjoy what you read, check out the red-tailed squirrel and Japanese squirrel.
Tufted Pygmy Squirrel Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a tufted pygmy squirrel?
The tufted pygmy squirrel is a rodent species. It belongs to the family Sciuridae, which has as its members all species of squirrels such as tree squirrels, ground squirrels, and other pygmy squirrels.
What class of animal does a tufted pygmy squirrel belong to?
The tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) belongs to the class Mammalia. This implies that the female tufted pygmy squirrel gives birth and has mammary glands which produce milk for the young offspring. Additionally, the tufted pygmy squirrel belongs to the order Rodentia, family Sciuridae and genus Excilisciurs.
How many tufted pygmy squirrels are there in the world?
There are no definitive estimates of the tufted pygmy squirrels' population. Although, we do know that the tufted pygmy squirrel population is deemed stable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). That also explains the conservation status of this pygmy squirrel as one of the Least Concern.
Where does a tufted pygmy squirrel live?
The tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi), of order Rodentia, is endemic to the island of Borneo, which is made up of the countries of Indonesia Malaysia, and Brunei.
What is a tufted pygmy squirrel's habitat?
Living in the highland forests of Borneo, the tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) commonly inhabits altitudes between 3280-9843 ft (1000-3000 m). Although, the tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) may also be found in much lower altitudes as well.
The forests of Borneo Island are montane forests. It is more likely that you will spot these squirrels on a tree instead of the ground.
Who do tufted pygmy squirrels live with?
Like other squirrels, the adult tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) lives most of its life alone. If and when they do form a group to nest together, it may be referred to as a dray or scurry.
The males do not help parent the young and leave right after mating. The mother and the siblings are as big as the squirrel family gets.
How long does a tufted pygmy squirrel live?
The lifespan of the tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) is not exactly known. Pygmy squirrels, like the African pygmy, live about four to six years, which may give hints about the life span of the tufted pygmy squirrel. However, bigger species like the fox squirrels live well over 10 years.
How do they reproduce?
A female squirrel may reach sexual maturity at about one to two years of age. At this point, the female would participate in one of the two mating seasons in winter or spring.
The female gives off a scent that attracts the males. After a chase where more than one male would chase the female, only the fastest, strongest male gets the privilege to mate.
The tufted pygmy squirrel has a gestation period of six weeks and a litter size between three and nine. The male tufted pygmy squirrel hardly ever sticks around to raise the offspring.
What is their conservation status?
According to the IUCN (Internation Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species, the tufted pygmy squirrel is categorized as Least Concern. This implies that the tufted pygmy squirrel population has been relatively stable and that they are under no imminent threat of extinction.
Tufted Pygmy Squirrel Fun Facts
What do tufted pygmy squirrels look like?
The tufted pygmy squirrel is plain olive-brown in color. It has distinct white ear-tufts after which it is named. It has a thick fluffy tail and small black eyes like other squirrel species. Although, it must be noted that the tufted pygmy is much smaller than an average squirrel like the red squirrel.
*Please note: This image is of the related species, least pygmy squirrel, and not of the tufted pygmy squirrel. If you have an image of the tufted pygmy squirrel, let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
How cute are they?
The tiny tufted pygmy squirrel is an adorable rodent. Their white ear-tufts, thick fluffy tails, and shiny black eyes are more than enough reasons to conclude that these little creatures are a bundle of cuteness. You can decide for yourself by looking at their images; it is unlikely you will conclude otherwise.
How do they communicate?
Squirrels are very smart animals; they can communicate well using a combination of calls and tail twitches. They may use these calls to warn others from predators or inform of food sources. The females use their scent to communicate their intent to mate as well.
How big is a tufted pygmy squirrel?
The tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) is small-sized, even for a squirrel. The length of their body is about 3.4 in (8.5 cm) while their tails are 2.6 in (6.5 cm) long.
How fast can a tufted pygmy squirrel run?
Tufted pygmy squirrels are sneakily athletic. You may see them climb a tree with great bursts of speed. It is unknown the exact speeds they may reach, but if other squirrels are any indication, then this species can reach speeds of 20 mph (36 kph).
How much does a tufted pygmy squirrel weigh?
The tufted pygmy squirrel weighs just 0.9 oz (24 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
The male tufted pygmy squirrel is called a buck, while the female is called a doe.
What would you call a baby tufted pygmy squirrel?
There are many names you could give to a baby tufted pygmy squirrels, such as a pup, kit, or kitten.
What do they eat?
Being herbivores, the diet of the tufted pygmy squirrel consists of lichens and mosses found covering an average tree in their habitat. The predators or animals who eat squirrels are wild cats, foxes, weasels, and minks.
Are they dangerous?
The small size and tame appearance accurately reflect how benign the tufted pygmy squirrel is.
Would they make a good pet?
The Bornean tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) thrives best when it is left in the wild. If you have the itch to get a rodent pet, hamsters or guinea pigs may be better options. In any case, this species of squirrel is endemic to Borneo, which makes it difficult to source them as pets.
Did you know...
The genus Exilisciurus consists of three species, the least pygmy squirrel, Philippine pygmy squirrel, and, of course, the tufted pygmy squirrel. All these three species are endemic to Southeast Asia.
Are tufted pygmy squirrels endangered?
The tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) is listed as a Least Concern species in the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Despite that, the increasing deforestation prompted by the timber industry and palm oil plantations has destroyed the habitat of the tufted pygmy squirrel to a great extent.
Is tufted pygmy squirrel endemic?
The tufted pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus whiteheadi) is a species that is endemic to the island of Borneo. This island is made up of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. So, if you wish to see these beautiful squirrels in the wild, you may have to book tickets to travel across the world.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Scottish fold cat facts or bat facts for kids pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable tufted pygmy squirrel coloring pages.
*Please note the main image is of the related species, least pygmy squirrel, and not of the tufted pygmy squirrel. If you have an image of the tufted pygmy squirrel, let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
Tufted Pygmy Squirrel Facts
What Did They Prey On?
N/AWhat Type of Animal were they?
HerbivoreAverage Litter Size?
3-9How Much Did They Weigh?
0.9 oz (24 g)What habitat Do they Live In?
highland montane forestWhere Do They Live?
islands of borneoHow Long Were They?
Body length: 3.4 in (8.5 cm)Tail length: 2.6 in (6.5 cm)How Tall Were They?
N/AClass
MammalGenus
ExilisciurusFamily
RodentiaScientific Name
Exilisciurus whiteheadiWhat Do They Look Like?
Plain brownSkin Type
FurWhat Are Their Main Threats?
n/aWhat is their Conservation Status?
Least Concernislands of borneo
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