Information on Brown and Black squirrels?

[brendaward]

Twas on our local news that this new variety of squirrels, brown squirrels are breeding with greys. Looked it up on the net and there are black squirrels breeding with greys with a large population in East Anglia. In the article I read it stated the more aggressive black ones are breeding with the greys and the young ones were brown. It stated that it was a faulty gene.

The TV said the new brown squirrels were larger than our red squirrels. Is this evolution or are they from abroad?

My main question is: Is there any WAB members with more information and knowledge of these squirrels because this is so interesting.

[thunder]

The black squirrels are merely a colour variant of the Grey Squirrels, so of course they breed with them. The offspring are not brown. The black ones may or may not be more aggressive than the 'ordinary' Grey Squirrels; I don't think ther is much evidence that they are. But any offspring of a Grey Squirrel is going to be larger than a Red Squirrel.

I don't know what a 'faulty' gene is in this context.

henrya

[brendaward]

BBC News. 5.10.10. The slow scamper of black squirel. Dr Alison Thomas. Anglian Ruskin University Cambridge.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by brendaward

BBC News. 5.10.10. The slow scamper of black squirel. Dr Alison Thomas. Anglian Ruskin University Cambridge.

Not a single mention of brown squirrels or increased aggressiveness, and she should know.

henrya

[brendaward]

cambridge-news.co.uk. Mutant Black Squirrels Find City Centre Des Res.

Quote: They will be totally inbred with the greys and you will end up with a black BROWN squirrel.

The aggression is thought to be linked to more testosterone in the larger black varieties. When I first heard this and wrote about it I was thinking how quirky it was then after further inquiries realised that Hobjob, 21.01.09, had posted a thread, 'Origins of the black Squirrel Discovered.' He quoted the same scientist whom has obviously been working on this for a long time.

Please accept my apologies if the wording is unscientific as I am just someone with a keen interest and fascinated by the prospect of seeing a species evolving and changing its colour. As fascinating as metamorphosis!

[The Woodman]

This is a poor image of a black/brown squirrel I took in August this year.

Despite the urban park setting I thought at the time that the animal was unusually timid.

[stigofthedump]

Originally Posted by brendaward

Please accept my apologies if the wording is unscientific as I am just someone with a keen interest and fascinated by the prospect of seeing a species evolving and changing its colour. As fascinating as metamorphosis!

No need to apologise, many of us here are just people with a keen interest just as yourself.

I'm of the same opinion as Thunder's post number 2.


Vince

[Gill Catton]

Yes me too. Black squirrels are grey squirrels. I saw this on the news too something along the lines of red squirrels now having to contend with black squirrels as well as grey ones and it made me a bit cross. Sloppy reporting suggesting that the black squirrel is a separate species it seemed to me.

[brendaward]

Friday Oct 15th Mail online. Brown Asian cousin. Prevost Squirrel. Nothing to do with this but take a look, multi coloured endangered species.
Yes you are right it has not been proved that these Black and black brown squirrels are more aggressive. Many experts 'think' they are as stated in many of the net articles. 'Probably' would be males because they are bigger, and they have more testosterone. Please note that I am using black brown squirrel to keep it clear cut. The picture that Woodman posted shows that the colouring is similar to a brown rat, thank-you Woodman. It does look a timid little thing and a little lonely. Wonder if it knows how special it is.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by brendaward

cambridge-news.co.uk. Mutant Black Squirrels Find City Centre Des Res.

Quote: They will be totally inbred with the greys and you will end up with a black BROWN squirrel.

The aggression is thought to be linked to more testosterone in the larger black varieties. When I first heard this and wrote about it I was thinking how quirky it was then after further inquiries realised that Hobjob, 21.01.09, had posted a thread, 'Origins of the black Squirrel Discovered.' He quoted the same scientist whom has obviously been working on this for a long time.

A rather sloppily written report, but the fact remains that "black" Grey Squirrels and "black-brown" Grey Squirrels are the same. In some lights the black ones look black-brown.

There is a quote further on in the article which says "Ms McRobie said: “It is only anecdotal from rumours that they are more aggressive than the greys. So far there is no scientific evidence to suggest that is the case.”

henrya