What is "red squirrel"

Chickaree \Chick"a*ree`\, n. (Zo["o]l.) The American red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus Hudsonius, formerly Sciurus Hudsonius); -- so called from its cry.

n. 1 ''Sciurus vulgaris'', the (vern Eurasian red squirrel pedia=1), common in Europe and Asia. 2 (taxlink Tamiasciurus hudsonicus species noshow=1), the (vern American red squirrel pedia=1), found in parts of North America.

1. n. of northern United States and Canada [syn: American red squirrel, spruce squirrel, Sciurus hudsonicus, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus]

2. common reddish-brown squirrel of Europe and parts of Asia [syn: cat squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris]

The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, omnivorous rodent.

In Great Britain, Italy and Ireland, numbers have decreased drastically in recent years. This decline is associated with the introduction by humans of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America, In addition, habitat loss is a factor. Due to this, without conservation the species could disappear from those shores within a generation.

Unlike some other rodents, the Eurasian red squirrel is not a direct threat to humans.