Nature Field Guide
Red-tailed Squirrel
- Spanish name
- Ardilla de cola roja
- Scientific name
- Sciurus granatensis
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Red-tailed squirrels are active during the day and move readily through trees.
What does Least Concern mean?
In the linked conservation assessment, this species does not qualify as threatened or near threatened with extinction. It still needs care: local populations and habitats can face problems even when the species has a lower extinction risk overall.
This label describes conservation status. It does not tell us whether a plant is safe for children or pets. Select the status button to read the assessment.
Species overview
About the Red-tailed Squirrel
Red-tailed squirrels are active during the day and move readily through trees. They eat plant foods such as fruits, nuts and seeds. Their coats vary considerably, so the common name does not mean every individual has exactly the same bright red tail. A bushy tail and quick climbing movements are useful starting clues, but Costa Rica has other squirrels too. Watching from a distance can show how an animal handles food, pauses on a branch or changes direction. Observe its behavior without offering snacks.
Explorer activity: Time one minute of quiet observation. Record whether a squirrel is climbing, feeding, resting or out of view.
Your discovery notes: Record the date, place and habitat. Add a sketch or a photograph taken from a distance. Write what you observed and one question you would like to investigate. If the species is uncertain, keep that uncertainty in your notes.
Identification
Key Features of the Red-tailed Squirrel
Bushy tail and a typical tree-squirrel body shape.
Coat and tail may have reddish, brown or darker tones.
Color varies; compare locality and multiple features with other squirrels.
Habitat & range
Forests and other suitably wooded habitats.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This is a country-level profile; it does not establish occurrence in every province, town or nature site.
When to observe
Daytime, when individuals are feeding or moving among trees.
Conservation & care
Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.
Conservation assessment
Global IUCN category reported by the linked specialist or Mammal Diversity Database account, checked October 2026. Least Concern does not mean there are no threats or that every local population is secure.
Observation activity
Time one minute of quiet observation. Record whether a squirrel is climbing, feeding, resting or out of view.