At least 365 species of squirrels inhabit the planet, and size varies among them. In general, squirrels on average weigh only a couple of pounds and don't get much longer than 2 feet -- and those are the larger squirrels. A miniature squirrel would have to be quite small in order to be considered a mini version of an already tiny creature.
Technically No Minis
Fox squirrels, red squirrels, gray squirrels and flying squirrels are just a few of the species of squirrel in North America. Of all the kinds of squirrels that exist, none are actually called miniature squirrels, and none are considered a miniature form of squirrel.
Smallest Tree Squirrel
If you're looking for a facsimile of a miniature squirrel, you could break it down and first look at the smallest tree squirrel, the flying squirrel. These little guys can get as long as 10 inches, but they weigh only 2 to 4 ounces. Their light weight helps when they launch from a branch and glide like a parasail through the air.
Smallest Ground Squirrel
Not all squirrels live in trees. On the ground, you'll find that the smallest ground squirrels are the white-tailed antelope squirrels. These diminutive guys are comparable in size to their tiny tree-dwelling cousins the flying squirrels. White-tailed antelope squirrels weigh between 3 and 4 ounces; larger specimens can get up to 10 inches long.
Where the Munks Fit In
Chipmunks are tiny little guys from the same Rodentia order as squirrels, so you might wonder where they fit in with squirrels. You may think of them as miniature squirrels, but that isn't quite the case. According to the U.S. Forest Service, squirrels and chipmunks have a lot of the same habits, such as hibernating, being active in the daytime and carrying food around in their check pouches. They aren't technically different types of the same animal, though. Still, chipmunks can get pretty small. The smallest is the least chipmunk, a little guy who, at between 3 and 4 1/2 inches long and weighing only 1 or 2 ounces, is smaller than the tiniest of the squirrels.
References
- Wildlife Conflicts: Tree Squirrels
- Ground-Dwelling Squirrels of the Pacific Northwest; Erick Yensen and Paul W. Sherman
- University of Nebraska Lincoln: The Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel: Controlling Damage
- Chesapeake Bay Program: Southern Flying Squirrel
- Encyclopedia of Life: White-Tailed Antelope-Squirrel
- United State Department of Agriculture: Small Mammals: Squirrels and Chipmunks
- North Carolina State University: Chipmunks
- Squirrels.org: Squirrel Facts
Photo Credits
-
Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Writer Bio
Elle Di Jensen has been a writer and editor since 1990. She began working in the fitness industry in 1987, and her experience includes editing and publishing a workout manual. She has an extended family of pets, including special needs animals. Jensen attended Idaho and Boise State Universities. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications.
