Posted by Juan on March 19, 2004 at 19:51:14:
In Reply to: Kicking a Dead Squirrel posted by Vince on March 19, 2004 at 11:06:17:
I'll call the squirrel I saw between Cape Sable and Bear Lake (it was immediately South of East Fox Lake, coincidentally) a Mangrove Fox Squirrel {this is erroneous, I should say Big Cypress (Mangrove) Fox Squirrel but I prefer mangroves to cypress}. It had a whitish snout and a black face. Below is text from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation website.
Thanks to all for the info.
Juan
Fox Squirrel
The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) weighs from one to three pounds, and exhibit color variations which range from a buff color to gray, and in some instances black. The under parts are usually lighter, and typical specimens have white noses with black faces and feet. They are noted for their long, bushy tails and for their strong hind legs which allows them to leap easily from place to place. The skull of the fox squirrel has 20 teeth: gray squirrels have 22 teeth. The fox squirrel probably was named after the fox because of its comparatively large size and peculiar way of running along the ground which gives the appearance of a small fox.
The fox squirrel may be found throughout Florida in open woods, pine and cypress stands, and mangrove swamps. Sherman's Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger shermani, a species of special concern, is found in the open piney woods of central and Northeastern Florida. The Big Cypress Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger avicennia, a threatened species is found from the Everglades region, in Lee county, to the southern part of Dade county.
: So based on what John Boyd, myself and others have said, the fox squirrel at Flamingo can't be a Southern Fox Squirrel because this animal is limited to the western panhandle, right? So is it an intergrade between Big Cypress (Mangrove) Fox Squirrel and Sherman's Fox Squirrel or a true Big Cypress (mangrove) Fox Squirrel like the one I have in my yard? Are the pictures taken of this particular squirrel available anywhere, especially on the internet? What say you squirrel lovers?