Cream colored tree squirrel

[~z]

Smokey Joe, don’t forget that the original specimen of sciurus niger was from a melanistic colony, hence the “niger”. Some of the things we recall from school.
~z

 

[Smokey Joe]

Learn something new every day

Even @ my advanced age!!

~Z--Well, how about that! I always wondered why a normally rusty squirrel was called "niger!" No one ever explained it; I just took it as "one of those things" and moved on. You'd think an inquiring mind like mine would have asked.

So, how common IS melanism in fox squirrels?

BTW--Owen--You'll need calico beans to add to yr calico stew!

 

[~z]

Smokey Joe, Not sure how common melanism is, just one of those things that struck me as odd in mamalogy class. Heres another one for you: This time from Ichthyology Micropterus salmoides (large mouth Bass) received its name from the original specimen shipped back to Europe which was poorly handled. Interestingly enough, the generic name for our freshwater bass, Micropterus, meaning "small fin", is a misnomer. The speciman from which the genus was named had a damaged fin which gave the appearance of a small fin behind the dorsal. This characteristic, needless to say, is not shared by the other members of the genus. Ah, taxonomy is such an exacting science...
~z

 

[AStone]

Nematocyst-870--I admit it, degrees in Biology, Natural Resources, and Education, spent 32 years teaching middle school, and have all the scars to prove it. Actually liked the technical part of it, and mostly enjoyed the kids. Hated the paper shuffling, but it comes with the territory. It was the administrators and the school board (and the public that voted for 'em) that finally got to me.

Dude, I can relate.

Taught community college for 7 years, then left (along with 15 others {out of 84 full timers} in one year because of a corrupt and stupid administration. {The president of the school was forced to resign by his corruption. Don't even get me started. :banghead:

BTW, have always admired your handle.

Hey, thanks.

It seemed apropo for a gun forum.

Nem

 

[trueblue1776]

Quail are tiny. I usually eat 3 or 4 at a sitting. Sounds like he got enough critters for 1 meal for a family of 5.

Quail are little flying chicken nuggets, you are making me hungry. I can eat mountains of those little buggers after a good hunt, no leftovers!

y'all can keep the rodents though, if it's not a rabbit anyhow...

 

[Byron Quick]

I couldn't really tell the comparative size from the photographs. But here in Georgia, fox squirrels are not a 'little' bigger than grey squirrels. Fox squirrels are easily twice as big or more. I've seen red, black, cream, and a totally different grey color scheme.

 

[Guyon]

Used to have an albino squirrel in our neighborhood. Got a good shot of it around here somewhere.

There are actually towns that bill themselves as "white squirrel towns": http://www.thom.org/gallery/set/squirrels.html

 

[AStone]

... here in Georgia, fox squirrels are not a 'little' bigger than grey squirrels. Fox squirrels are easily twice as big or more.

You'd better watch out for,
the fox squirrel that ate Chicago,
for he may eat your city soon.

You'd better watch out for the fox squirrel that ate Chicago,
If he's still hungry, the whole country's doomed.

http://imagination.org/lyrics/the_eggplant.html

 

[MedGrl]

It is interesting that you saw a "cream Squirrel" as you put it. In south Western Northcarolina there is a large population of "WHite Squirrels". THey are actualy albino squirrels that live and breed soly in the Ashville REgion of NC. My grandma owns 9 acres in the mountains there and has a bunch of them living on her property. THey are a protected species. I wonder if they are gonna start apearing in California or if it was just a random albino?