Red squirrel; Ardilla roja

Arboreal, omnivorous rodent. The red squirrel has a typical head-and-body length of 19 to 23 cm and a tail length of 15 to 20 cm. It is not sexually dimorphic, as males and females are the same size. It is thought that the long tail helps the squirrel to balance and steer when jumping from tree to tree and running along branches and may keep the animal warm during sleep. A lighter, redder overall coat colour, along with the ear-tufts (in adults) and smaller size, distinguish the Eurasian red squirrel from the American eastern grey squirrel. The red squirrel has sharp, curved claws to enable it to climb and descend broad tree trunks. Its strong hind legs enable it to leap gaps between trees.