This cache was hidden to populate the greenbelt of more geocaches, as it seems only appropriate to expand peoples knowledge of this beautiful area. The caches theme is a bit nutty, though you should figure it out sooner than later since your brain is most likley a lot bigger and advanced than what this cache is dedicated to. If you havent figured it out yet, the theme is based on squirrels, which seem to be found in every part of this forest. The following below is a introduction to the knowledge scientist have collected thoughout the years of Squirrels. I have not supplied this introduction with the classifications of names used by sceintist as it would seem uneccesary to add. It is highly suggested that you read at least some of the print, as you will not only further your knowledge of Squirrels, but upon gaining more info on them, you will form a healthy respect for the animal that dwells in the forest of this planet. Enjoy the caching experience and the critters that live thoughout this beautiful land.
Squirrels affiliate with the family Sciuridae and range from a small to medium sized rodent body. Sciuridae consist of tree, ground and flying squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks and marmots (features woodchucks). These mammals are indigenous to Africa, Eurasia, the Americas and have also been inaugurated to Australia. The oldest known squirrels as far as science knows, date to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene period of the Cenozoic Era, which is known as the "age of the mammals".
The Etymology of the familys title is the Anglo-Norman esquirel, which is from the Old French word escurel, a word based off the Latin word sciurus, credited from the Anceint Greek word σκίουρος, skiouros; meaning shadow tailed, alluding to the hairy addendum (tail) connected to the majority of the families members.
The general features of the squirrel would be defined by thin bodies with thick haired tails and fairly large eyes. The fur is known to have silky, soft properties, but varies in thickness from species to species of squirrels. the pigment of their fur varies in the family and even differs throughout the entire body of the animal. The fore limbs are typically smaller than the hind limbs and the attributes of the paws included a full 4 or 5 toes. Thumbs are often part of the paw, but are under developed. Pads are also found upon the undersides of the paws as well. Interestingly diffrent than other animals, Tree squirrels have the ability to decline in height, head first. This is possible by their bodies flexibility to turn their ankles a full 180 degrees so the hind paws can grasp tree bark or other sorts of surfaces. The large eyeballs of Squirrels are attributed by having enhanced eyesight compared to other creatures, which would be important to a critter that would inhabit trees. Their sense of touch is noted in many species as adept as well. Sciurid teeth relate to the familiar rodent pattern of large sized incisors that expand thoughout their short lifetimes and follow with grinding cheek teeth seperated by a large distanced gap, in repect to teeth seperation. Typically, the lifepan extends to a general 5-10 years in the wild, but can live to 10-20 years in captivity. Squirrels thrive in at least every habitat, except for extreme polar regions and the most driest of deserts. They are chiefly known to be herbivores that consume nuts and seeds, but are known as well to sustain themselves on in some instances small vertebrates and more commonly, insects.
In terms of their behaviour, Squirrels produce offspring around 1 or 2 times a year and procreate a varied amount of their species in a time frame of around 3-6 weeks. The young enter the world blind, furless and toothless, and in most species of squirrels, the mother provides its child with its life essentials. Its been observed that the ground thriving species often form into socially well developed groups, while the tree inhabiting species live a more solitary life. Tree and ground sqiurrels are for the most part diurnal (active during day) or crepuscular (active during dawn or dusk), and flying squirrels have been noted of being nocturnal animals, unless producing milk or happen to be of a young age, which would place them into a diurnality cycle.
To broaden the topic of comsumption, It is known that squirrels are restricted from consuming cellulose, which is found in the cell walls of verdant plants and are only limited to nourishing themselves with food high in carbohydrates, fat and protein. diets of this animal vary form several kinds of food sources, such as fruits, fungi, conifer cones, nuts, seeds, and verdent foliage. It should also be noted that some species consume flesh, and for the majority of the reason it is due to a depravation of food. To list a few known food choices, small snakes and birds, eggs, insects and smaller sized rodents are but a few Squirrels hunt upon. Thus, predatory behavour has been observed and stomachs have been found containing in some species, other animal parts.
To breifly explore the taxonomy of Squirrels, the family divides into 5 subfamilies consisting of an estimated 52 genera and over 200 species. The earliest squirrel fossil ever recorded is known as the Hesperopetes, which dates back to the Chadronian age (late Eocene). The areas populated by these animals ancesters provides sceintist with a clue that perhaps Squirrels originated in North America.