The Common Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) belongs to the family Sciuridae, order of rodents, the class of mammals. Have been described numerous subspecies, some of dubious validity. In fact, the species shows a wide variation in coat color, with a range that goes from red to dark brown. The subspecies present in Italy are: Sciurus vulgaris, Sciurus vulgaris italicus, Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis and characterized by a black cloak. The squirrel is the common length of about 25 cm without the tail that is 15 to 20 cm long. The weight ranges from 250 to 340 g. There is no sexual dimorphism between male and female, who are the same size. It is thought that a long tail so it is useful in the squirrel leaping from tree to tree and running along the branches, ensuring the balance. The lower body is always white. The hind legs are longer than the front allow the animals to move with great agility on the ground, while the strong nails and pads allow him to climb trees with amazing abilities. The squirrel common, as most of the arboreal squirrels, has sharp claws and curved such as to allow tree climbing, even on overhanging branches.
(sourceWikipedia)
