| Squirrels in the tropical forest | | December 8, 2002. |  We
usually associate squirrels with wooded areas filled with magnificent exuberant
pine trees, usually found in restricted cold climate zones. Nevertheless, one
may be surprised upon hearing that there are a couple of species of cute little
evasive squirrels who have made their home in the intricate tropical forest that
surrounds the bay, as close as a few meters from the beach. They are the Colima
tree squirrel (Sciurus colliaei) and Audubon's ground squirrel (Spermophilus annulatus)
which, despite their reduced numbers in the region, are not in any danger of extinction.
Squirrels
are members of the rodent family, characterized by a rather nervous temperament.
We can often observe them busy at some activity, but always aware of everything
going on around them. They are sociable beings, but they still do not tolerate
the presence of strange members of their own kind within their territory. If an
outsider dares to enter their territory, it will be chased away immediately and
in a much less than friendly manner.  These
little creatures devote a large part of their time to their search for food, which
they eagerly store in holes they dig in the earth, with the steadfast intention
of having adequate reserves for that "rainy day". If they forget the
exact places they chose to hide their alternative source of food, their acute
sense of smell will help them find it again. Despite this, much food remains buried
but it does not go to waste as an endless number of wild animals feed on the reserves
left behind by the squirrels. Consequently, they indirectly provide an ecological
social service to the entire ecosystem.
The dexterity
developed by squirrels in burying and finding food has inspired scientists to
reason that they are animals that possess the ability to reason in order to solve
problems. To support that statement, an experiment was conducted wherein cookies
were given to the squirrels. It was noted that they did not bury them, and when
the trees they used as shelter were nearby, they devoured them immediately. But
if those were far away, they ate the smaller ones (rather quickly) on the spot
where they found them, and took the larger ones with them back to the trees. These
decisions implied a comparison between the reasoned risk of being caught and the
benefit derived from eating immediately.  With
regard to the species that inhabit the Bay of Banderas, the Colima tree squirrel
is an animal that lives in the trees, and quite large in size as it reaches 3
feet in length from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail. The body is svelte
and very flexible, its snout is short and the eyes are relatively large. The ears
are small, erect and covered with hair. Its forelegs are short and its paws have
four fingers with sharp claws which do not hamper it in any way from manipulating
objects with great ease and dexterity. The tail, longer than the combined length
of the head and the body, is covered with abundant hair. Its fur is gray on the
back, with a diffused band of black hair along the spine.
The
squirrels' favorite habitat is the forests, the mango plantations and the palm
groves. These animals are active during the daytime, mostly in the mornings and
around sunset time. They climb and jump through the trees and the branches with
great agility, helping themselves along with their tails to maintain their balance
and not fall to the ground. Although they are sociable animals that may form groups
as large as 10 or 12 individuals, generally when they are feeding or during the
mating season, they are beings that prefer the solitary life.  They
build their nests with dried twigs and leaves on the branches of trees or they
may take advantage of the holes they find there or in palm trees. These are herbivorous
animals that feed on fruit and seeds. Some observations along the coast of Jalisco
have noted that they eat plums and wild mushrooms as well as coconuts. Their pregnancies
last 44 days that culminate with the birth of one to five offspring that suckle
for 8 to 10 weeks. The Colima tree squirrel is a species that is endemic to Mexico.
It can be found along the Pacific coast from the state of Sonora all the way south
to the state of Colima.
For its part, Audubon's ground
squirrel is also endemic to this country, like the species above. Its habitat
is much more limited as it only extends along the Pacific coast from the southern
part of Nayarit to the state of Guerrero. It is a rodent with a large body reaching
between 50 and 80 cm. (20" - 32") from the tip of its nose to the tip
of its tail. Its eyes are large, it has a short neck and snout, and the ears are
small, erect and covered with hair. The length of the tail is equal to or longer
than the rest of the body and the head combined, and it is covered with abundant,
long hair. Overall, the color of the fur that covers its body is yellowish brown,
with diffuse stripes alternating between light and dark on the tail.  Audubon's
ground squirrels build their lairs underground, under rocks or trees. They are
active in the daytime who also limit their activities to the early morning hours
and around sunset. Although they are clearly land animals, they are also extremely
agile climbers. They are gregarious animals that live in family groups within
their underground shelters. Their main foods are fruit and grasses, although they
also frequently consume insects. Mating occurs during the dry season from November
to May and mother squirrels can give birth to litters of one to five offspring.
Finally,
simply watching squirrels is a life lesson for human beings. Their search for
food and the manner in which they store it are examples of arduous work and pertinent
planning that we should apply during our existence, with the firm goal of facing
an uncertain future in a satisfactory manner. cupul@pvmirror.com |
Current
Weather Report
