Family Sciuridae, the squirrels, with 278 species and 51 genera, is one of the most diverse and variable families of living mammals. Members of Sciuridae range from the common, arboreal grey squirrel in the United States, to flying squirrels, terrestrial marmots, chipmunks, semi-fossorial prairie dogs, and various terrestrial and arboreal squirrels around the world.
From trees to burrows underground, sciurids are found in a vast array of habitats, including rainforests, arid grasslands, arctic tundras, forests, suburban areas, and cities. Sciurids can be found at high elevations, such as the Himalayan marmots which are found at elevations up to 5000 meters.
Sciurids range in body size from mouse-sized African pygmy squirrels to robust red giant flying squirrels of Asia, weighing up to 3 kilograms.Sciurids can tolerate a variety of environmental conditions and are found from the Arctic to the tropics, including most arid and humid regions