When people are trying to learn about squirrels they often get confused by all of the different names. A squirrel will often have multiple common names and those names will often overlap with the common names of other species of squirrels. For example, in the US there are three distinct species of tree squirrels that are called “Gray Squirrels” (Eastern, Western and Arizona).
Another point of confusion is that the squirrel family encompasses many more creatures than just the common tree squirrels that we see in our backyards. It turns out that creatures as diverse as chipmunks and groundhogs are also technically considered to be squirrels!
After you sort through all of the confusion and add up all of the different types of squirrels in the world you will find that there are 289 different species!
The number of 289 was derived from the list of species provided by the Animal Diversity Web (ADW) which is an online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology at the University of Michigan (source). The number has some uncertainty in it as some species of squirrels have subspecies and the subspecies sometimes get “moved up” into their own new separate species.
Of the 289 species of squirrels in the world only 22% can be found in the United States.
I am going to start this article off with the list and descriptions of all of the types of squirrels found in the United States. From there we will move into the scientific naming conventions for all 289 squirrel species.
How Many Types of Squirrels Are There in The United States?
There are 65 species of squirrels in the United States. This list covers all members of the squirrel family including:
- Tree Squirrels (8 species)
- Flying Squirrels (2 species)
- Ground Squirrels (24 species)
- Prairie Dogs (4 species)
- Marmots (5 species)
- Chipmunks (22 species)
Tree Squirrel: Eastern Gray Squirrels (sciurus carolinensis)
The eastern gray squirrel is native to the eastern areas of America and the northern portions of Canada. These are among the most common squirrels seen in the United States. They are a type of tree squirrel that lives its life scampering up and down oaks and other trees while gathering acorns and other food.
Eastern Grays are extremely adaptable and can often be found in backyards while robbing bird feeders. Nothing can make bird lovers more angry than watching that bushy tail flick with happiness while eating up all the bird feed.
The eastern gray squirrel’s fur ranges from dark to light gray and they typically have white bellies. Albinos are rare among grey squirrels but pure black variants are common.
Curious? Read this: Black Squirrel Facts: Are They More Aggressive?
Gray squirrels mostly live in dens or nests. Dens are holes in a tree that are useful during winter. They use different kinds of sounds and tail signs to communicate and have a sharp sense of smell. Grey squirrels are omnivores. They consume flowers, buds, fungi, bark, and nuts, but they will also eat bird eggs, and meat in the form of frogs, insects, and young birds.
Tree Squirrel: Western Gray Squirrel (sciurus griseus)
Western gray squirrels can be found in Washington, Oregon, California, and in areas of Nevada. The Western Gray is listed as Threatened in Washington.
The Western Gray is a large squirrel that looks similar to, and is often confused with, the Eastern Gray.
Tree Squirrel: Arizona Gray Squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis)
The Arizona Gray is found in the canyons of Arizona and New Mexico and is very similar in appearance to an Eastern Gray.
The population of Arizona Grays is small and they compete with Abert’s squirrels for resources. The Arizona Gray does not make many sounds and will avoid predator detection by remaining motionless for long periods of time.
Tree Squirrel: Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
These squirrels can be found in the eastern, central and southeastern portions of the United States. The color of their fur is usually a pale orange-brown but some varieties also have black fur.
These squirrels are highly adapted to climbing and can be very fast. They have excellent eyesight, even in low-light conditions. They also possess a keen sense of smell and hearing. Their diet consists of a variety of things and they can eat vegetative matter, insects, bird eggs, young bird, and dead fish.
The Eastern fox is the largest tree squirrel in the United States, can weigh more than two pounds and will survive for many years in the wild.
Read more here: How Long Do Squirrels Live? What is Their Life Expectancy?
Tree Squirrel: Abert Squirrel (sciurus aberti)
Abert’s squirrel is found in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. The Abert squirrel is famous for its elongated ears that grow about an inch of tassle hair in the winter.
There are nine subspecies of the Abert including the Kaibab squirrel which was once thought to be a separate species. The Kaibab squirrel is fascinating as the entire range of the population is a 20×40 mile section of ponderosa pine on the north rim of the Grand Canyon (source).
Tree Squirrel: Mexican Fox Squirrel (Sciurus nayaritensis)
The Mexican fox squirrel is relatively common in Mexico but in the US the squirrel lives only in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. There are three subspecies of this squirrel.
No Video Currently Available
Tree Squirrel: Douglas Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)
The Douglas squirrel is found on Pacific coastal states and is one of two squirrels knows as “pine squirrels”.
The Douglas squirrel is much smaller than any of the gray squirrels. These squirrels are highly territorial in their defense of their stored food supplies known as middens.
Don’t miss this: Are Squirrels Territorial? Most Are Not But Some Have To Fight To Live!
Tree Squirrel: American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
The American red squirrel can be found almost anywhere in the United States that has an abundance of conifer trees and is also known as a “pine squirrel”. The American red squirrel is not found on the Pacific coast where the Douglas squirrel is the dominant species.
Like the Douglas squirrel, the American red is a small squirrel that is highly territorial and protects large middens of stored food.
You’ll also like this: Are Squirrels Rodents? The Big Differences Between Squirrels and Rats!
Tree Squirrel: Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)
The northern flying squirrel is found in the northern section of the United States with a lower territorial limit of the mountains of North Carolina. There are two subspecies of this squirrel.
The northern flying squirrel is nocturnal and will glide from tree to tree instead of actually flying. They use a membrane that extends from the wrist of the foreleg to the ankles of the hindleg, allowing them to glide from tree to tree without touching the ground (source).
“They have gray-brown fur with gray-beige bellies, big black eyes, and pink feet.” (source)
Don’t miss this: Flying Squirrel Facts: Top Ten Things You Need To Know!
Tree Squirrel: Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)
The southern flying squirrel can be found in both the northern and southern sections of the eastern United States and has been seen as far south as Florida.
The southern flying squirrel shares many of the same characteristics as the northern squirrel. Both are nocturnal gliders.
Ground Squirrel: Harris’s Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisii)
The Harris antelope squirrel is a ground squirrel found in Arizona and New Mexico.
There are four different species of antelope squirrels and they are well adapted to high heat environments. They can raise their core body temperatures to above 100F and, when they get too hot, will go to a shady spot and lay “spread eagle” on the ground to “heat dump” and rapidly cool themselves.
Ground Squirrel: Texas Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus interpres)
The Texas antelope squirrel is a ground squirrel found in Texas and New Mexico.
They have a white stripe along the side of their torso, highlighted with black markings both above and below the stripe. The rest of the fur is grey with either black or brown markings, with the exception of the underside of the tail which is also white (source).
Ground Squirrel: White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus)
The white tailed antelope squirrel is a ground squirrel found in the southwestern United States.
“The White-tailed antelope squirrel is a species of ground squirrel that has brown to gray fur with two white stripes running from the shoulder to the hind end. Their bellies and the underside of their tails are white in color and there is a black stripe on the tail. Their ears are tiny and somewhat circular” (source).
Read all about them here: White Tailed Antelope Ground Squirrels (aka..Hiking in Las Vegas!)
Ground Squirrel: San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni)
The San Joaquin antelope squirrel is a ground squirrel found in the San Joaquin valley in California. Due to habitat loss and the increased use of rodenticides these squirrels are listed as a Threatened species. This species is also known as a Nelson squirrel.
Gunnison’s Prairie Dog (Cynomys gunnisoni)
Gunnison prairie dogs are found in the Four Corners region of the United States with the largest populations in Arizona and New Mexico. These prairie dogs live in colonies of several hundred individuals and hibernate during the winter.
White-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus)
White tailed prairie dogs are found in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Montana. The largest populations are in Wyoming where they are known colloquially as “chiselers”(source).
The white-tailed prairie dog is tan-brown in color, with large eyes and a dark patch on their cheeks above and below each eye (source).
This species is listed as Threatened due to active human pressures through shooting and poisoning.
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Black tailed prairie dogs are found across the Great Plains and have extremely large colonies. These prairie dogs do not truly hibernate like other prairie dog species.
“Black-tailed prairie dogs are small rodents with a height of about 16 inches. Their bodies are mostly tan, except for their lighter-colored belly. The easiest way to tell the black-tailed prairie dog from other prairie dogs is to look for its namesake black-tipped tail.” (source)
Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys parvidens)
Utah prairie dogs are located in Utah and are the smallest of the prairie dog species. The Utah prairie dog is a Threatened species. The largest population of these animals consists of a colony of about 200 in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Alaska Marmot (Marmota broweri)
The Alaska marmot is found in scattered small colonies in the mountains of northern Alaska. February 2nd is officially “Marmot Day” in Alaska as a replacement for “Groundhog Day”. The Alaska marmot hibernates for about eight months per year.
The remote, difficult terrain where the Alaska marmot lives combined with the fact that they hibernate for so long has resulted in minimal studies being performed on this species. It is suspected that climate change will have a dramatic impact on its tundra environment.
“The Alaska marmot is a large, ground-dwelling rodent. It has a heavy body with short neck and bushy tail, powerful legs and feet, and claws well-suited to digging. An adult pelage (coat) is solid black on the dorsal surface of the head and nose, and gray and light brown elsewhere on the body. Diet: Grasses, flowering plants, berries, roots, mosses, and lichen.” (source).
Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata)
Hoary marmots can be found in Idaho, Washington and Alaska. They are the largest of the ground squirrels and can weigh up to 15 pounds.
Hoary marmots are extremely vocal and are sometimes referred to as “whistle pigs” due to their size and the high pitched whistling sound they use to warn of predators.
Like the Alaska marmot, the Hoary marmot hibernates for up to eight months per year in communal dens. The males of the species also forms harems.
Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)
Yellow bellied marmots can be found in the mountains of the western United States (Rockies, Sierra Nevada, Mt Rainier). Like the other marmots they are large ground squirrels that hibernate for much of the year. They live in colonies of 10-20 individuals with a single dominant male.
Olympic Marmot (Marmota olympus)
The Olympic marmot is only found on the Olympic peninsula in Washington. These marmots form colonies of up to forty individuals and consisting of multiple families.
Groundhog (Marmota monax)
Groundhogs (also known as woodchucks) are a species of marmot that are found in the Eastern and Midwest portions of the United States. with a small population in Alaska as well. Groundhogs are unique among the marmots found in the United States in that they are solitary creatures and do not form colonies.
Uinta ground squirrel (Urocitellus armatus)
The Uinta ground squirrel is found in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana.
“Identification: Grayish back and rump with fine white spots on back; nose and shoulders are tan to cinnamon; tail is grayish underneath.
Diet: Eat grasses, forbs, mushrooms, insects, and carrion (including road-killed members of its own species)” (source).
California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)
The California ground squirrel is common to most parts of California, Western Oregon, and some areas of Western Nevada. These squirrels cause significant crop damage and are the frequent target of population control measures.
Belding’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus beldingi)
Belding’s ground squirrels can be found in the western United States in the meadows at high altitudes.
This small squirrel participates in predatory alert nepotism. That is, if one of these squirrels sees a predator that is close to a family member it will let out an alarm call but does not alarm if the predator is near a non-related squirrel.
Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus brunneus)
There is some debate about this species of squirrel that is found only in Idaho. The Northern Idaho ground squirrel may be the same or a different species as the Southern Idaho ground squirrel. If they are they same species then this would simply be called the Idaho ground squirrel.
Merriam’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus canus)
Merriam ground squirrels are found in Oregon, Idaho and Nevada. This squirrel is nearly identical to the Townsend ground squirrel and they can only be told apart through genetic testing.
Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus)
Columbian ground squirrels can be found in a small region of the northwest United States. You are not going to see this guy very often as it hibernates for seven to eight months out of the year.
Wyoming Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus elegans)
Wyoming ground squirrels can be found in the northwestern United States. There is disagreement/confusion about this species as some sources state that this is the same species that used to be named a Richardson ground squirrel while other sources indicate that they are different species.
Franklin’s Ground Squirrel (Poliocitellus franklinii)
The Franklin’s Ground squirrel is very widely dispersed and can be found in North Dakota, central Kansas, and west-central Indiana. They are larger in size compared to most ground squirrels and their fur is of a salt and pepper color. Their head and tail are of grey color. This type of ground squirrel is very inconspicuous. They are very good at climbing and also make for excellent swimmers.
Curious? Read this: Can Squirrels Swim? Why Would They and Where Are They Going?
Unlike other ground squirrels, Franklin’s ground squirrels do not communicate through loud noises. Franklin’s ground squirrels do make use of a variety of calls but the meaning of these sounds is not known. Unlike some squirrels that make barking and growling noises, the sounds produced by Franklin’s ground squirrel have a musical quality.
Don’t miss this: Squirrel Noises and Sounds: Barks, Screams, Chirping-What Do The Calls Mean?
Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis)
Golden Mantled ground squirrels can be found in Arizona, California and New Mexico. Unlike many ground squirrels that have communal burrows the golden mantled species creates solitary burrows.
Mexican Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys mexicanus)
Mexican Ground Squirrels can be found on the Texas Gulf Coast, central Texas and southeastern New Mexico. This is one of the few species of squirrel that really loves meat. They will often dine on road kill and, in captivity, will resort to cannibalism.
Mohave Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis)
Mojave Ground Squirrels are only found in the Mojave desert in California. They emit a cute little “peep” as an alarm call.
The Mohave Ground Squirrel is typically solitary and territorial. They are dominant over the antelope ground squirrels that also live in their areas and will chase them out of their territory.
Read this: White Tailed Antelope Ground Squirrels (aka..Hiking in Las Vegas!)
Paiute Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus mollis)
Paiute ground squirrels are found in Utah, Nevada, California, and the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. The Paiute was once thought to be a subspecies of the Townsend ground squirrel but has been elevated to its own species.
The Paiute is only active for a few months during the year. The squirrel hibernates during the winter and enters an inactive period in its burrow during the hot summer months.
Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)
Richardson Ground Squirrels are found in the upper northern sections of the United States in North Dakota and Montana. These squirrels have the nickname of “flickertail” due to the nonstop tail twitching they exhibit.
Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)
The Thirteen-lined ground squirrel can be found in the prairies of central North America. It is small in size and carries longitudinal strips on its back. These steps alternate between tan and dark brown colors.
Like other ground squirrels, the thirteen-lined ground squirrel makes use of a variety of alarm calls to communicate. It has excellent eyesight and also carries highly developed senses of smell and touch.
These ground squirrels also secrete special scents that help them communicate. They are omnivorous and will consume seeds, grass and clover leaves, insects, small vertebrates, carrion, and bird eggs.
Cascade Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus saturatus)
Cascade Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels are found in the Cascade Mountains in the province of British Columbia as well as Oregon and Washington.
Spotted Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma)
Spotted Ground Squirrels are found in the central and southwestern portions of the US. An interesting aspect for this species is while most squirrels give predator alarms through vocalizations, the Spotted Ground Squirrel’s primary alarm mechanism is foot stomping.
Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)
Round tailed ground squirrels are found in the southwest of the US. The fur on these animals has absolutely no markings which allow it to blend in with the sandy desert environment.
Townsend’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii)
Townsend ground squirrels are found in high desert shrublands across the US. Piaute and Merriam ground squirrels were once thought to be subspecies of the Townsend but have subsequently been recognized as their own species.
Rock Squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)
Rock squirrels are found in the southwest of the US and are almost always found in rocky areas such as canyons and cliffs. The Rock Squirrel is reported to be a predator that will catch and eat baby wild turkeys and other small birds.
Washington Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus washingtoni)
Washington ground squirrels are found in Washington and Oregon. This species is listed as endangered in Oregon and is a candidate species in Washington. The primary reasons for the decline of this species are disruption of habitat through farming and treatment of the species as a pest.
Alpine Chipmunk (Neotamias alpinus)
The Alpine chipmunk is a very small animal (~45 grams) that is only found in the high elevations (above the timberline) of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Despite their highly localized habitat, these squirrels are not a threatened species. However, if global warming lets the treeline move upwards then the limited habitat of these animals will shrink even further.
University of California, Riverside Entry
Yellow-Pine Chipmunk (Neotamias amoenus)
The Yellow Pine Chipmunk is native to the northwest United States. One aspect of these chipmunks that is interesting is that they are one of the few mammals where the female of the species is larger than the male (source).
While these are typically burrowing animals they have been known to make nests in trees.
Gray-Footed Chipmunk (Neotamias canipes)
The Grey Footed Chipmunk is found in New Mexico and Texas. They are forest dwelling animals that use downed trees for shelter. The defining characteristic of this species of chipmunks is their grey feet. Shouldn’t be that big of a surprise given their name.
No Video Currently Available
Gray-Collared Chipmunk (Neotamias cinereicollis)
The Gray Collared Chipmunk is found in the coniferous forests of New Mexico and Arizona. The chipmunk lives in the mountains regions at elevations up to 10,800 feet with the upper elevation being determined by the edge of the timberline. These chipmunks will also make themselves at home in subdivisions with some people considering them pests.
No Video Currently Available
Cliff Chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis)
The Cliff Chipmunk is found in the Western United States and typically lives on cliff walls. If you ever go to the Grand Canyon and see a chipmunk on the cliffs then this is what you are probably seeing.
Merriam’s Chipmunk (Neotamias merriami)
Merriam’s Chipmunk is found in central and southern California. These chipmunks are highly adaptable and live in many different types of environments with different food sources. This chipmunk is extremely similar to the California chipmunk.
University of California Riverside Entry
Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus)
As the name implies, the Least Chipmunk is the smallest of all of the chipmunks. Despite its small size it is extremely successful from a biological standpoint with 21 different sub-species identified across its vast range that spans from northern New Mexico to Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
California Chipmunk (Neotamias obscurus)
The California Chipmunk is found in the mountain of southern California. Unlike most species of chipmunks, the California chipmunk does not hibernate.
No Video Currently Available
University of California Riverside Entry
Yellow-Cheeked Chipmunk (Neotamias ochrogenys)
The Yellow Cheeked Chipmunk is found in the coastal region of northern California. This is the largest member of the chipmunk family. Despite the large size of this guy you will have a hard time spotting it as the Yellow Cheeked is a secretive fellow who likes to stay out of sight.
No Video Currently Available
Palmer’s Chipmunk (Neotamias palmeri)
Palmer’s Chipmunk is only found in the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada. This species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN with the primary threat being habitat loss from the growth of Las Vegas.
No Video Currently Available
Panamint Chipmunk (Neotamias panamintinus)
The Panamint chipmunk is a medium sized species found in the mountains of southern California and Nevada. They prefer to live around pinon pines and granite outcroppings. The Panamint has not been well studied due to its limited range and distance from human populations.
No Video Currently Available
Long-Eared Chipmunk (Neotamias quadrimaculatus)
The long eared chipmunk is found in the Sierra Nevada mountains and are named after their long and slender ears. This species is highly adaptable with nests being formed in trees, rotten logs or in underground burrows.
Colorado Chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus)
The Colorado chipmunk is found in Colorado as well as parts of Utah and Arizona. The Colorado chipmunk is one of the few species of squirrels that is reported to be monogamous.
Red-Tailed Chipmunk (Neotamias ruficaudus)
The red tailed chipmunk is found in the Rocky Mountain region of Montana, Idaho and Washington. It is a large species of chipmunk, more darkly colored and spends more time in trees than other chipmunks.
Hopi Chipmunk (Neotamias rufus)
The Hopi Chipmunk is found in the “Four Corners” regions of the United States with the primary populations occurring throughout Utah, Colorado and Arizona.
Utah Division of Wildlife Entry
Allen’s Chipmunk (Neotamias senex)
Allen’s chipmunk (Neotamias senex) is a species of chipmunk. It is also known as the shadow chipmunk. It is native to the western United States, where it occurs in California, Nevada, and Oregon (source).
No Video Currently Available
Siskiyou Chipmunk (Neotamias siskiyou)
The Siskiyou chipmunk is closest in appearance to Allen’s chipmunk (Neotamias senex) and the yellow-cheeked chipmunk (Neotamias ochrogenys). Its coat is brown-gray, with a pattern of five dark brown and four gray stripes along its back; the central stripe tends to be blackish and darker in color compared to the other stripes. Additionally, Siskiyou Chipmunks have three brown and two gray stripes on each cheek (source).
No Video Currently Available
Sonoma Chipmunk (Neotamias sonomae)
Sonoma chipmunks are small ground-dwelling rodents in the squirrel family.
These chipmunks have 5 black to brown stripes running along their body with white stripes in between. The rest parts of the body range from tawny to cinnamon to gray. Their belly is grayish white and tail is edged in white (source).
Lodgepole Chipmunk (Neotamias speciosus)
The Lodgepole chipmunk (Neotamias speciosus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in the U.S. state of California at elevations from 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft). The Lodgepole chipmunk has a variety of common names including: Tahoe chipmunk, Sequoia chipmunk, Mt. Pinos chipmunk, and San Bernardino chipmunk (source).
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Due to the distinctive striped pattern of its pelt, the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), is an easily identified squirrel (Sciuridae). There are five dark and two white or buff stripes that run the length (5.5 to 6.5inches) of their reddish-gray and brown bodies to the rump where an obvious red patch is located (source).
Townsend’s Chipmunk (Neotamias townsendii)
Uinta Chipmunk (Neotamias umbrinus)
The Uinta chipmunk is a medium-sized chipmunk. The predominant color of the summer coat varies from yellowish brown-grey to dark brown, often with a reddish tinge. Three wide, distinct dark blackish-brown stripes run down the back, separated and surrounded by four paler stripes of pale grey to white fur (source).
All The Squirrels In The World!
The top level FAMILY NAME that covers all 289 species of squirrels is the Sciuridae family. This family covers a highly diverse population of species and includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, woodchucks and more.
The FAMILY is broken down into five SUBFAMILIES
- Tree Squirrels, Flying Squirrels and relatives (Subfamily Sciurinae)
- Ground squirrels, Marmots, African squirrels, and relatives (Subfamily Xerinae)
- Pygmy squirrels (Subfamily Sciurillinae)
- Asian squirrels (Subfamily Callosciurinae)
- Asian giant squirrels (Subfamily Ratufinae)
Tree Squirrels, Flying Squirrels and Relatives (Subfamily Sciurinae)
When most people think about squirrels these are the animals that they have in mind. This subfamily includes the Gray, Fox, Red and Flying squirrels that are common in backyards, woods and parks.
The Sciurinae Subfamily contains 82 different species of squirrels. The breakdown to the species level happens by sorting the squirrels into Tribes and Genus and then finally into Species.
This Subfamily has two TRIBES
- Tree squirrels, Red squirrels, and Relatives (Tribe Sciurini)
- Flying Squirrels (Tribe Pteromyini)
The Tribes are further broken down into GENUS and then into SPECIES.
Breakdown of the Sciurini Tribe Into 38 Species of Squirrels
- Tree Squirrels (Genus Sciurus) contains twenty eight species.
- American red squirrels and chickarees (Genus Tamiasciurus) contains three species.
- Dwarf squirrels (Genus Microsciurus) contains five species.
- Tufted ground squirrel (Genus Rheithrosciurus) contains one species.
- Central American montane squirrels (Genus Syntheosciurus) contains one species.
Breakdown of the Pteromyini Tribe Into 44 Species of Squirrels
- American flying squirrels (Genus Glaucomys) contains two species.
- Chinese flying squirrel (Genus Aeretes) contains one species.
- Sunda flying squirrels (Genus Aeromys) contains two species.
- Hairy-footed flying squirrel (Genus Belomys) contains one species.
- Namdapha flying squirrel (Genus Biswamoyopterus) contains one species.
- Kashmir flying squirrel (Genus Eoglaucomys) contains one species.
- Woolly flying squirrel (Genus Eupetaurus) contains one species.
- Pygmy flying squirrels (Genus Hylopetes) contains nine species.
- Pygmy flying squirrels (Genus Petaurillus) contains three species.
- Javanese flying squirrel and Mentawi flying squirrel (Genus Iomys) contains two species.
- Asian giant flying squirrels (Genus Petaurista) contains eight species.
- Small flying squirrels (Genus Petinomys) contains nine species.
- Eurasian flying squirrels (Genus Pteromys) contains two species.
- Smoky flying squirrel (Genus Pteromyscus) contains one species.
- Complex-toothed flying squirrel (Genus Trogopterus) contains one species.
Ground Squirrels, Marmots, African Squirrels, and Relatives (Subfamily Xerinae)
The Xerinae Subfamily contains 138 different species of squirrels. The breakdown to the species level happens by sorting the squirrels into Tribes and Genus and then finally into Species.
This Subfamily has three TRIBES
- Marmots, chipmunks, ground squirrels, and relatives (Tribe Marmotini)
- African squirrels (Tribe Protoxerini)
- African ground squirrels (Tribe Xerini)
The Tribes are further broken down into GENUS and then into SPECIES.
Breakdown of the Marmotini Tribe Into 103 Species of Squirrels
- Antelope squirrels (Genus Ammospermophilus) contains five species.
- Prairie Dogs (Genus Cynomys) contains five species.
- Marmots (Genus Marmota) contains fourteen species.
- Chinese rock squirrels (Genus Sciurotamias) contains two species.
- Ground squirrels and rock squirrels (Genus Spermophilus) contains forty two species.
- Chipmunks (Genus Tamias) contains twenty five species.
Breakdown of the Protoxerini Tribe Into 29 Species of Squirrels
- Palm squirrels (Genus Epixerus) contains one species.
- Rope squirrels (Genus Funisciurus) contains nine species.
- Sun squirrels (Genus Heliosciurus) contains six species.
- African pygmy squirrel (Genus Myosciurus) contains one species.
- African bush squirrels (Genus Paraxerus) contains eleven species.
- African giant squirrels (Genus Protoxerus) contains two species.
Breakdown of the Xerini Tribe Into 6 Species of Squirrels
- North African ground squirrels (Genus Atlantoxerus) contains one species.
- Long-clawed ground squirrel (Genus Spermophilopsis) contains one species.
- African ground squirrels (Genus Xerus) contains four species.
Pygmy squirrels (Subfamily Sciurillinae)
The Sciurillinae subfamily of squirrel only contains a single Genus (Sciurillus) and species, the neotropical pygmy squirrel.
Asian squirrels (Subfamily Callosciurinae)
The Callosciurinae Subfamily contains 64 different species of squirrels. The breakdown to the species level happens by sorting the squirrels into Tribes and Genus and then finally into Species.
This Subfamily has no TRIBES but does have fourteen Genus.
- Beautiful squirrels (Genus Callosciurus) contains fifteen species.
- Asian montane ground squirrels (Genus Dremomys) contains six species.
- Asian pygmy squirrels (Genus Exilisciurus) contains three species.
- Palm squirrels (Genus Funambulus) contains five species.
- Sculptor squirrel (Genus Glyphotes) contains one species.
- Long-nosed squirrels (Genus Hyosciurus) contains two species.
- Asian striped ground squirrels (Genus Lariscus) contains four species.
- Indochinese ground squirrel (Genus Menetes) contains one species.
- Black-eared pygmy squirrels (Genus Nannosciurus) contains one species.
- Dwarf squirrels and Sulawesi tree squirrels (Genus Prosciurillus) contains five species.
- Shrew-faced squirrel (Genus Rhinosciurus) contains one species.
- Sulawesi giant squirrel (Genus Rubrisciurus) contains one species.
- Sunda tree squirrels (Genus Sundasciurus) contains fifteen species.
- Asian striped squirrels (Genus Tamiops) contains four species.
Asian giant squirrels (Subfamily Ratufinae)
The Ratufinae Subfamily contains 4 different species of squirrels. The breakdown to the species level happens by sorting the squirrels into Tribes and Genus and then finally into Species.
This Subfamily has no TRIBES and one Genus.
- Asian giant squirrels (Genus Ratufa) contains four species.
