Head to head
Tufted Ground Squirrel vs Eastern Gray Squirrel
Tufted Ground Squirrel
VS Eastern Gray Squirrel
The tufted ground squirrel and eastern gray squirrel are both bushy-tailed squirrels, but one is a little-known Borneo rainforest species with a legendary tail and the other a familiar, adaptable squirrel found in woods and parks.
| Tufted Ground Squirrel | Eastern Gray Squirrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Rheithrosciurus macrotis | Sciurus carolinensis |
| Native region | Lowland and hill rainforest on the island of Borneo | Forests of eastern North America, introduced to Britain, Ireland, and Italy |
| Tail | So bushy that its volume is reported to exceed that of its body | Used for balance, as a rudder in falls, a sunshade, a blanket, and a signal flag |
| Diet | Hard-shelled nuts and seeds, gnawed open with strong teeth | Acorns, hickory nuts, seeds, buds, fungi, fruit, and occasionally eggs and insects |
| Where it forages | Mostly on the ground and in low vegetation | In trees and on the ground, descending trunks head-first on rotating ankles |
| Food storage | Not specifically documented | Buries thousands of nuts a year in separate spots |
| Reputation | Local lore of a deer-killing vampire squirrel, unsupported by evidence | Fakes burials when it senses it is being watched |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable, with a declining population | Least Concern, with an increasing population |
Tufted Ground Squirrel vs Eastern Gray Squirrel: common questions
Why is the tufted ground squirrel called the vampire squirrel?
A local legend claims it kills deer, a story that gave it the nickname, though there is no good evidence for it.
Which squirrel is more at risk?
The tufted ground squirrel, which is Vulnerable and declining as lowland rainforest on Borneo is lost, while the eastern gray squirrel is abundant and increasing.
Where do the tufted ground squirrel and eastern gray squirrel live?
The tufted ground squirrel is found only in lowland and hill rainforest on Borneo, while the eastern gray squirrel is native to eastern North America and introduced to Britain, Ireland, and Italy.