How Many Fingers Does a Squirrel Have? 
You’ve probably wondered how many fingers do squirrels have – but did you know that red squirrels have four on each paw? Then you’ll appreciate the fact that these creatures have opposable thumbs and sharp claws. Then, consider what it means for them to have a wide range of vision and a long, curved tail. Read on to find out!…and maybe you’ll even become fascinated by squirrels – and their unique sense of smell and taste!
Red squirrels have four fingers on each paw
A red squirrel’s paws are incredibly versatile. Their paws are actually four fingers on each paw! These little mammals can grab food with their paws, hold it in place, and even jump higher than a human! They also have five fingers on their ankles and a vestigial thumb. These critters also have a bushy tail that they use for balance and as a blanket when the weather gets rough. Red squirrels are smaller than grey squirrels and their coats are not obviously patchy.
Squirrels have extraordinary senses of smell. They can detect rotten nuts even when they are buried under snow. They also rotate their ears to pick up sounds and express their feelings. While grey squirrels and other rodents prefer acorns, red squirrels are known to be reluctant eaters of acorns. Red squirrels will, however, gnaw on dead deer antlers – a source of calcium for their bones!
Tree squirrels have opposable thumbs
Squirrels may not have opposable thumbs, but they do have a vestigial thumb on their front limbs. This is not an opposable thumb, but rather a shortened finger that helps them climb and grip branches. Tree squirrels have a thumb on their front limbs, but their hind digits are devoid of it. Compared to humans, squirrels are extremely agile and don’t require three points of attachment.
Although many animal species lack opposable thumbs, the ability to grip objects is essential for survival. Humans, chimpanzees, orangutans, and panlas all have opposable thumbs. Many birds and even a few species of opossums also have opposable digits. Although squirrels are not known to have opposable thumbs, they still have five digits on their forepaws and four numbers on their hind paws. This is sufficient to allow them to grasp bog nuts without the aid of their thumbs.
Gray squirrels have sharp claws
While most species have rounded or curved claws, the sharp tips on grey squirrels’ paws are shaped like needles. This sharpness and agility allow them to grip tree bark and climb trees with speed. They also use their reversible hind feet to hold onto branches, while climbing headfirst down trees. This helps them maintain their footing while ascending and descending. They can reach up to 15 miles per hour.
While most people think of squirrels as herbivores, they are actually omnivores. They can feed on a variety of vegetation and animals, including frogs, lizards, baby birds, and insects. This makes their claws an important part of their hunting capabilities. They can use these claws to hold a steady kill shot. These claws allow them to fight back when a predator approaches them.
Red squirrels have a wide range of vision
Like humans, red squirrels have excellent eyesight, especially peripheral vision. Their eyesight is nearly as good as their focus, which means they can easily see above and behind them without moving their heads. While squirrels don’t have a high level of color vision, their lenses are pale yellow, making them a good choice for hunters, since they help cut down the glare from the sun. However, their vision is limited when the light level is low, and they need to remain still to see clearly.
Squirrels’ ears have long, tufts of fur. Their bodies are covered with hair, with two pairs of vibrissae on their belly. Their thoracic and abdominal sinuses are located on the chest and abdomen, while their groin and feet have posterior abdominal sinus hairs. The two groups of ears are situated on opposite sides of the head. Red squirrels have a wide range of vision, but they do not have a high-quality binocular vision.
Red squirrels can jump a distance of up to 20 feet
The distance a Red squirrel can jump is not yet fully understood. Scientists have found that Reds can jump as far as 20 feet, though there have been very few attempts to measure their maximum distance. However, they have been found to leap over gaps of two metres, which could be equivalent to approximately ten times their body length. It is unknown if jumping distances of this length are typical.
It has a long tail, accounting for almost a third of its total length. It weighs about 240 g (8.4 oz) when it is fully grown. The tail is also very long, and the animal can jump up to twenty feet high. Although red squirrels are not the fastest animals, they can jump far, allowing them to escape from predators and survive in the wild.
Red squirrels moult twice a year
Red squirrels moult twice a season – the first in spring and the second in late autumn. This molt results in the appearance of the animal, with its body becoming lighter and thinner in spring and a whiter tail and ear-tufts in summer. Their body condition also changes as a result of this process. A healthy individual will have a thick winter coat and no visible ear tufts.
Adult red squirrels are around ten to fifteen inches long with a tail that makes up almost half their body length. Male red squirrels tend to be larger than females, but they both have the same basic body coat colour pattern. They have a reddish-brown dorsum and white venters, with a black line running down the middle. The adult red squirrel’s tail is also red, and its fur has white edging and a black stripe on its sides. Red squirrels moult twice a year, replacing their body fur.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
