Plantain Squirrel (Callosciurus notatus)

OTHER NAMES: Oriental Squirrel, Tricoloured Squirrel

Latin Etymology: Callosciurus ("beautiful squirrel") notatus ("marked")

Adult Plantain Squirrel (subspecies C. n. miniatus) at Kuala Lumpur - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Callosciurus notatus miniatus
Weight: 150-280g  /  Length: 40-60cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most common squirrel in my time in Malaysia and probably the most common mammal on the trip in general, the Plantain Squirrel is a distinctive species with bands of orange, black and white on it's belly that make it easy to recognise, which, combined with it's large size make it easy to spot.  They are quite happy to live in parks in much the same way as grey squirrels are in the UK.  My favourite moment with this species however was when strolling through Kuala Lumpur Botanic Gardens, a shape suddenly thudded on the ground in an open patch of grass - we initially thought it was a branch but when it scurried off back to the treeit had fallen from (and it must have been a good 20m fall at least) it had very much an air of refusing to acknowledge that anyone had seen it be so ungraceful.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Callosciurus
SUBSPECIES: C. n. notatus, C. n. diardii, C. n. vittatus, C. n. suffusus, C. n. miniatus

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Tupai Pinang ("Pinang Squirrel")

A common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Fairly common in Kuala Lumpur

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Grey-bellied Squirrel (Callosciurus caniceps)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Callosciurus ("beautiful squirrel") caniceps ("grey headed")

Adult Grey-bellied Squirrel (subspecies C. c. concolor) at Kuala Lumpur - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Callosciurus caniceps concolor
Weight: 280g  /  Length: 44cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Grey-bellied Squirrel is the smaller and less obvious of the two common squirrel species seen in urban environments in Malaysia - a fairly subtly coloured and drab animal that is found in various habitats right up into theheart of Kuala Lumpur itself, even in heavily managed areas.  It's diet is fairly typical of what you would expect from a squirrel including fruits, seeds, flowers and insects.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Callosciurus
SUBSPECIES: C. c. adangensis, C. c. bentincanus, C. c. bimaculatus, C.c. caniceps, C. c. casensis, C. c. concolor, C. c. domelicus, C. c. epomophorus, C. c.fallax, C.c. helvus, C. c. inexpectatus, C. c. jaborensis, C. c. lancavensis, C. c. lucas, C. c. mapravis, C. c. matthaeus, C. c. moheius, C. c. mohillus, C. c. nakanus, C. c. panjioli, C. c. panjius, C. c. pipidonis, C. c. samuiensis, C. c. sullivanus, C. c. tabaudius, C. c. tacopius, C. c. talibius, C. c. terutavensis

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay: Tupai Perut Kelabu ("Grey Stomach Squirrel")

Fairly common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Fairly common in several parks in Kuala Lumpur, a single at Genting Highlands

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Field Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

OTHER NAMES: Wood Mouse, Long-tailed Field Mouse, European Wood Mouse
Latin Etymology: Apodemus ("abroad in the country") sylvaticus ("of the woods")

Juvenile Field Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) at Brigstock, Northants - June 2026

Featured Subspecies: unclear
Weight: 13-27g  /  Length: 8-10cm (not including tail)
IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While it might not be so famous as it's urban counterpart the house mouse, the field mouse is actually the most numerous mammal in the UK. As either it's name as wood or field mouse suggests, it is a creature of the countryside, although as this individual can attest, it will happily move into homes where they are near to it's natural habitats.  They can be identified by proportionally larger eyes and ears than the house mouse.  The UK is also home to a distinctive subspecies in the form of the St. Kilda Field Mouse, found only on that archipelago.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Muridae 
Genus: Apodemus
SUBSPECIES: A. s. sylvaticus, A. s. hirtensis; a number of others but unable to find definitive list

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An abundant resident.

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Slender Squirrel (Sundasciurus tenuis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sundasciurus ("Squirrel of the Sundas") tenuis ("thin" or "weak")

Adult Slender Squirrel (unknown subspecies) at Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 75g  /  Length: 25-30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small and common species of squirrel found in Singapore, and indeed, one of only two terrestrial mammals we saw on the entire trip.  Slender Squirrels have a more chipmunk type vibe to them than the other larger species I've photographed - and often appeared to live in small groups based around a single nest location such as the dense fronds of a palm type tree.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sundasciurus
SUBSPECIES: S. t. bancarus, S. t. modestus, S. t. parvus, S. t. procerus, S. t. tenuis.

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common around Lower Pierce Reservoir and surrounding area

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Variable Squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii)

OTHER NAMES: Finlayson's Squirrel
Latin Etymology: Callosciurus ("Beautiful squirrel") finlaysonii (for naturalist George Finlayson)

Adult Variable Squirrel (subspecies C. f. annellatus) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Callosciurus finlaysonii anellatus
Weight: 250g  /  Length: 43-46cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name suggests, the variable squirrel has a large number of colour variations attached to different subspecies.  While the subspecies of Central Cambodia apears as seen above, they vary as much as subspecies which are entirely pale silver-grey, and a wide array of forms between in combinations of whites, greys and russets. It has been suggested that this diversity may actually represent a complex of closely related species.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Callosciurus
SUBSPECIES: C. f. finlaysonii, C. f. albivexilli, C. f. folletti, C. f. frandseni, C. f. germani, C. f. harmandi, C. f. trotteri, C. f. annellatus, C. f. bocourti, C. f. boonsoni, C. f. cinnamomeus, C. f. ferrugineus, C. f. menamicus, C. f. nox, C. f. sinistralis, C. f. williamsoni

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List , RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

House Mouse (Mus musculus)

OTHER NAMES: Common House Mouse 
Latin Etymology: Mus ("mouse") musculus ("little mouse")

Adult House Mouse (subspecies M. m. domesticus) at Geddington, Northants - November 2016

Featured Subspecies: Mus musculus domesticus
Weight: 40-45g  /  Length: 12.5-20cm
IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Perhaps of all vertebrates, the single species which has benefited most from humans - historically they are believed to have originated in Asia, but have followed humans to almost every location on earth.  They are adaptable omnivores, and given their fast reproductive cycle natural selection can change them quite drastically in a comparatively short amount of generations.  They are considered pests as they will damage human property although they are also the species from which domestic mice have descended.

Related Species:

Order: Rodentia 
Family: Muridae 
Genus: Mus 

SUBSPECIES: M. m. castaneus, M. m. domesticus, M. m. musculus, M. m. bactrianus, M. m. gentilulus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very common resident, particularly in human inhabited areas though proportionately rarely seen

 - Seen at various sites including Geddington and numerous locations in London

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus)

OTHER NAMES: Red-backed Vole, Wood Vole

Latin Etymology: Myodes (?) glareolus ("gravel coloured")

Adult Bank Vole (subspecies M. g. britannucus) at Trevose, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: Myodes glareolus britannicus
Weight: 15-36g  /  Length: 11-19cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the two common terrestrial voles found on the British mainland, the Bank Vole is subtly different from the Field Vole, the other of the two species.  It is the most common vertebrate in the UK with a population estimated to be in the region of 75 million.  Most of my sightings of this species have been on the edge of woodland where they scuttle through ditches feeding.  They can most reliably be located by scuttling in the undergrowth, although of course, this can be one of various species.  Voles in general are something of a lynchpin species as the most common small prey in grassland habitats, being one of the favoured prey species of predators including various owls and raptors, foxes, mustelids and snakes.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Arvicolinae
Genus: Myodes
SUBSPECIES: M. g. bernisi, M. g. bicolor, M. g. bosniensis, M. g. britannicus, M. g. cantueli, M. g. curcio, M. g. devius, M. g. erica, M.g. fulvus, M. g. garganicus, M. g. glareolus, M. g. gorka, M. g. hallucalis, M. g. helveticus, M. g. hercynicus, M. g. insulaebellae, M. g. intermedius, M. g. istericus, M. g. italicus, M. g. jurassicus, M. g. makedonicus, M. g. minor, M. g. nageri, M. g. norvegicus, M. g. ognevi, M. g. petrovi, M. g. pirinus, M. g. ponticus, M. g. pratensis, M.g. reinwaldti, M. g. riparia, M. g. rubidus, M. g. rufescens, M. g. ruttneri, M. g. saianicus, M. g. sibericus, M. g. sobrus, M. g. suecicus, M. g. variscicus,M. g. vasconiae, M. g. vesanus, M .g .wasjuganensis, M. g. skomerensis, M. g. caesarius, M. g. alstoni

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An abundant but secretive mammal (75,000,000)

 - Seen at Geddington and Trevose Head though evidence of presence seen elsewhere.

Further Notes:  BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota)

OTHER NAMES: Marmot

Latin Etymology: Marmota ("Marmot") marmota ("Marmot")

Alpine Marmot (subspecies M. m. marmota) in the Dolomites, Italy - July 2004

Featured Subspecies: Marmota marmota marmota 
Weight: 2.8-3kg  /  Length: 42-54cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Alpine Marmot is one of the largest rodents in Europe - and indeed the joint largest of the entire squirrel family. It is found in mountain meadows in Southern and Central Europe where they form underground colonies on the slopes and retreat into their tunnels if they detect danger.  My sightings of them were in the Dolomites, but they can be found throughout other mountain ranges such as the Pyranees and, of course the Alps.  They graze on grasses and herbs but may also take grain and invertebrates to supplement their diets.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Marmota
SUBSPECIES: M. m. marmota, M. m. latirostris

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Marmotta comune ("Common Marmot")

A fairly common resident of the high mountains.

 - DOLOMITES 2001 TRIP: A seen at various points in the Dolomites

Further Notes:  BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

OTHER NAMES: Common Rat, Street Rat, Wharf Rat, Norwegian Rat
Latin Etymology: Rattus ("rat") norvegicus ("of Norway")

Adult Brown Rat (subspecies R. n. norvegicus) at Geddington, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Rattus norvegicus norvegicus

Length: 38-50cm  /  Weight: 230g

UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very adaptable and highly misunderstood creature - rats a very intelligent and expert survivors that have spread around the world with humans. They can be found in a broad range of habitats, although perhaps the most visible ones are urban ones where they are able to survive using food that humans leave. Originally reaching the UK aboard ships, it displaced the Black Rat which had reached the country first, making the latter more scarce. They were not responsible for the Bubonic Plague, but, may in theory carry other diseases. As with this individual photographed, perhaps the easiest time to see them is when they raid bird tables.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Muridae 
Genus: Rattus 

SUBSPECIES: R. n. norvegicus, R. n.caraco, R. n. praestans, R. n. primarius, R. n. socer

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A common but usually shy resident
 - Seen at various sites including Geddington and Rutland Water

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

OTHER NAMES: Squirrel, Grey Squirrel
Latin Etymology: Sciurus ("squirrel") carolinesis ("of Carolina")

Adult Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis - unknwon subspecies) at Regent's Park, London - November 2009

Featured Subspecies: Unknown
Length: 42-55cm  /  Weight: 400-600g
UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very common species found in parks and woodland throughout the UK. It is partially arboreal and can often be seen climbing in the upper reaches of trees, as much as it is on the ground. An introduced species, it carries parasites which are very dangerous to the native red squirrel population and as such the red squirrel has been replaced in much of its range by this species.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Sciuridae 
Genus: Sciurus 
SUBSPECIES: S. c. carolinesis, S. c. extimus, S.c. fuliginosus, S. c. hypophaeus, S. c. pennsylvanicus

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - An abundant resident - probably the most easily seen mammal in the UK
 - Seen at various sites including Geddington and Regent's Park

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List,  RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto  .

European Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius)

OTHER NAMES: Water Vole, Water Rat
Latin Etymology: Arvicola ("field inhabitant") amphibius ("amphibious")

Adult Water Vole (subspecies A. a. amphibius) at Rainham Marshes, London - July 2010

Featured Subspecies: Arvicola amphibius amphibius
Weight: 200-350g  /  Length: 33cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Also (incorrectly) named the Water Rat, and thus star of the famous novel "Wind in the Willows", the Water Vole is a reasonably large rodent which lives, as its name suggests, along bodies of water. They live in burrows near ditches ponds and streams or occasionally in nests in reed beds. They unfortunately dramatically declining, in part because of the introduction of American Mink, but also habitat loss.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Cricetidae
Genus: Arvicola 
SUBSPECIES: A. a. amphibius, A. a. hintoni, A. a. illyricus, A. a. italicus, A. a. jacutensis, A. a. jenissijensis, A. a. kuznetzovi, A. a. martinoi, A. a. meridionalis, A. a. musignani, A. a. ognevi, A. a. persicus, A. a. reta, A. a. stankovici, A. a. tauricus, A. a. terrestris

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An uncommon resident

 - Seen on several occassions at Rainham Marshes.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus,  IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Japanese Squirrel (Sciurus lis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Sciurus ("squirrel") lis (?)

Adult Japanese Squirrel (Sciurus lis) at Kamakura, Japan - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: 16-22cm  /  Weight: 250-310g
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Japanese Squirrel is no way near as common as squirrels in the UK,being a creature of the mountain forests and even there not being present in the densities of the Grey Squirrel in the UK. Human encroachment has made them rarer in Japan and they are rarely seen around most urban areas, although Kamakura is apparently an exception. It is a slightly stockier looking animal than the British species, with more rounded ears and a more snub face.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sciurus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - ニホンリス  /  Nihonrisu  ("Japan Squirrel")

Japanese endemic species, compartively scarce

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Single individual seen in Kamakura 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

OTHER NAMES: Eastern Fox Squirrel, Bryant's Fox-Squirrel
Latin Etymology: Sciurus ("squirrel") niger ("black")

Adult Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Unknown (introduced population)
Weight: 450-1130g  /  Length: 50-72cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A distinctively orange squirrel which gives them their name, the Fox Squirrel is originally a species of the Eastern USA, but introductions have lead to it having populations in other places, such as California where I saw them. They favour oak, hickory, walnut, pecan and pine trees, but can be found in a wide range of forested habitats.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Sciuridae 
Genus: Sciurus 
SUBSPECIES: S. n. niger, S. n. avicinnia, S n. bachmani, S. n. cubeeus, S. n. limitis, S. n. ludovicianus, S. n. rufiventer, S. n. shermani, S. n. subauratus, S. n. vulpinus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Range centred round the Mississipi Basin, with introduced populations elsewhere
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Francisco and Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)

OTHER NAMES: Silver-Gray Squirrel, California Gray Squirrel, Oregon Gray Squirrel, Columbian Gray Squirrel, Banner-tail
Latin Etymology: Sciurus ("squirrel") griseus ("grey")

Adult Western Gray Squirrel (subspecies S. g. griseus) at Roy's Redwoods - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Sciurus griseus griseus
Weight: 350-1000g  /  Length: 43-61cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largrest arboreal squirrel of the Western United States, unlike it's counterpart the Eastern Grey, it does not have the substantial introduced ranged outside North America. Their fur is also entirely silver-grey and white, and doesn't have the rust coloured patches like the Eastern. They are more closely tie to forest than their more common counterparts.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Sciuridae 
Genus: Sciurus 
SUBSPECIES: S. g. griseus, S. g. nigripes, S. g. anthonyi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in West Coast States

- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Roy's Redwoods

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)

OTHER NAMES: Beechey Ground Squirrel, Beechey Marmot
Latin Etymology: Otospermophilus ("ear seed lover") beecheyi (for Frederick William Beechey)

Adult California Ground Squirrel (subspecies O. b. beecheyi) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Otospermophilus beecheyi beecheyi
Weight: 280-738g  /  Length: 33-51cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Probably the most commonly seen wild terrestrial mammal of my visit to California, the California Ground Squirrel is a large ground dwelling rodent that has adapted fairly well to human habitation. They live in self excavated burrows, and rarely move far from the entrance to it. In colder parts of their range they do hibernate. They do sometimes climb small shrubs to feed.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Otospermophilus
SUBSPECIES: O. b. atricapillus, O. b. beecheyi, O. b. fisheri, O. b. nesioticus, O. b. nudipes, O. b. parvulus, O. b. rupinarum, O. b. sierrae

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found primarily in California, also in Western Oregon and into Washington and Nevada
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose, Berkeley and Hayward  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

OTHER NAMES: Red Squirrel
Latin Etymology: Sciurus ("squirrel") vulgaris ("common") 

Adult Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) at Vienna, Austria - October 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 10-15g  /  Length: 34-43cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The indiginous tree squirrel of Europe, the Red Squirrel is somewhat paradoxical in that overall it has an enormous range but within the UK specifically it is significantly struggling due to competition with the non-native grey squirrel which outcompetes it and carries pathogens which are fatal to reds. The result has led to a catastrophic population collapse and Reds are largely extipirated from England. While the population in the UK does have the namesame red fur, other populations are more variable into black, grey and brown such as the individual pictured above.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Sciuridae 
Genus: Sciurus 
SUBSPECIES: S. v. alpinus, S. v. altacaicus, S. v. anadyrensis, S. v. arcticus, S. v. balcanicus, S. v. chiliensis, S. v. cinerea, S. v. dulkeiti, S. v. exalbidus, S. v. fedjushini, S. v. fusconigricans, S. v. leucourus, S. v. lilaeus, S. v. mantchuricus, S. v. martensi, S. v. ognevi, S. v. orientis, S. v. rupestris, S. v. ukrainicus, S. v. varius, S. v. vulgaris

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A localised and declining resident
 - Seen in the Lake District

AUSTRIA - Austrian: esguilu - "Squirrel"

Common resident

 - VIENNA 2024: Seen in Vienna  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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