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Black-tailed prairie dogs are generally tan in color, with lighter-colored bellies. They may have color variation in their pelt, such as dark fur on their back in black and brown tones. Their tails have black tips, from which their name is derived. Adults can weigh from 1.5 to 3.0 lb (0.68 to 1.36 kg), males are typically heavier than females.
Prairie dogs are stout-bodied rodents that, on average, are 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) long, including the short tail, and weigh between 0.5 and 1.5 kilograms (1 and 3 lb). Sexual dimorphism in body mass in the prairie dog varies 105 to 136% between the sexes. [ 13 ]
Rarely does the prairie dog capture and kill the squirrel, but when it does, it leaves the squirrel for avian predators, as the prairie dog is an herbivore. Female white-tailed prairie dogs who killed squirrels had increased litter sizes, but the higher her body count, the lower her chances of surviving each subsequent attack. [ 6 ]
The purposes of squirrels' tails, to benefit the squirrel, include: [18] To keep rain, wind, or cold off itself. To cool off when hot, by pumping more blood through its tail. As a counterbalance when jumping about in trees; As a parachute when jumping. To signal with. The hairs from squirrel tails are prized in fly fishing when tying fishing ...
The post Why Do Dogs Have Tails? appeared first on Reader's Digest. Fluffy, curly, short, or stumpy, tails are adorable features of our furry friends. But why do dogs have tails? Pet experts explain.
"Dogs do have full control of their tails; it is a highly specialized part of the body," says Dr. MacMillan. "They can control whether it is raised or lowered, as well as side-to-side movement.
In addition to their many color patterns, the southern fox squirrel is approximately twice the size of a gray squirrel and varies between 20-26 inches in length, with their tail included, and an ...
Ground squirrels are rodents of the squirrel family that generally live on the ground or in burrows, rather than in trees like the tree squirrels.The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as marmots (genus Marmota) or prairie dogs, while the smaller and less bushy-tailed ground squirrels tend to be known as chipmunks (genus ...