Family of the Week: The Carnivorous Squirrels
The family Regisciuridae are close in resemblance to modern squirrels, but they are not at all related. These animals actually derived from dormice. Dormice are even more aggressive hunters than any other rodents today, as they also feed on a variety of insects as well as vegetation. Most species of Regisciurids are good sized animals, with long, bushy tails. They have long legs, and they possess retractable claws like cats. The incisors are designed much like those of the carnivorous rats (family: Caromuridae). Prey is often killed by biting them on the back of the neck and breaking the vertebrae, while at the same time, grasping with the claws. The primary food is any form of meat, whether they hunted the prey themselves or scavenged from another predator. Prey is mostly detected by sight and hearing, which are very acute senses in these animals. They are all diurnal hunters, and vary in size. The smallest species in the family are those of the genus Microsciuropsis. The largest species is in Titanadocus. Microsciuropsis are small and resembles modern ground squirrels. Titanadocus is heavy-boned and resembles a very large lion. The species in this family range from the early to mid Metazoic era, and actually die off as such animals as mongooses and civets get bigger, and Deinognathids also evolve that outcompete these rodents.
These animals live all over, including the Batavian Islands, where smaller Regisciurids drifted in on small floating islands from the mainland. There are 2 species that inhabit the Batavian Islands, those are Regisciuria vulpinus and Callixerus pennicillata. These animals are no bigger than today's foxes and hunt ground-dwelling bats. They are quick and agile animals and will chase prey for short distances, and even partially climb trees to get what they want. Though they cannot chase the tree-dwelling bats through the trees. When not hunting, these animals roost in burrows.
The largest species in the family is Titanadocus striaticaudatus. This animal is unusual looking in that the body is all deep reddish-brown with pale ochre undersides, and the tail has bright black and white stripes that extend down the length of the tail. These animals are hunters of the greatest caliber during their time in the Metazoic. Their prey consists of deer, antelope and pentadactyls. These animals hunt by stalking, sometimes for long periods. They sit and wait for just the right moment to pounce on a prey animal, and then they strike. These animals are the size of a very large male lion, and are pack hunters. Males and females both participate in hunting. There is another species of Titanadocus that inhabits Lemuria, and is considerably smaller and a more active hunter.
The smallest species in the family is Microsciuropsis brevicaudatus. It also has the shortest tail in the family in proportion to body size. All species of Microsciuropsis are small, light-bodied animals, with slender legs, short heads and most of the species have long tails. They mostly hunt small game, though sometimes they may even go so far as to bring down prey the size of an antelope fawn. But their primary prey are ground squirrels, and some, like M. felina, will prey on small lemurs. Sometimes these little predators will take on prey twice their size and weight. They are diurnal animals, at night these animals burrow into the ground and curl up.
Predators are few during the early Metazoic. Large predatory bats are known to take the smaller species and young. In Batavia, they become common victims of the carnivorous sinecrus like Agriopepta. Barofelids, Deinognathids, Ailurocyonids and dogs are also major predators of these rodents. Large mongooses will also prey on these animals. Then there is also the fact that the larger species also feed on the smaller species. Titanadocus is the largest species, and sometimes preys on the smaller species, like Chaeturotheria.
These animals live all over, including the Batavian Islands, where smaller Regisciurids drifted in on small floating islands from the mainland. There are 2 species that inhabit the Batavian Islands, those are Regisciuria vulpinus and Callixerus pennicillata. These animals are no bigger than today's foxes and hunt ground-dwelling bats. They are quick and agile animals and will chase prey for short distances, and even partially climb trees to get what they want. Though they cannot chase the tree-dwelling bats through the trees. When not hunting, these animals roost in burrows.
The largest species in the family is Titanadocus striaticaudatus. This animal is unusual looking in that the body is all deep reddish-brown with pale ochre undersides, and the tail has bright black and white stripes that extend down the length of the tail. These animals are hunters of the greatest caliber during their time in the Metazoic. Their prey consists of deer, antelope and pentadactyls. These animals hunt by stalking, sometimes for long periods. They sit and wait for just the right moment to pounce on a prey animal, and then they strike. These animals are the size of a very large male lion, and are pack hunters. Males and females both participate in hunting. There is another species of Titanadocus that inhabits Lemuria, and is considerably smaller and a more active hunter.
The smallest species in the family is Microsciuropsis brevicaudatus. It also has the shortest tail in the family in proportion to body size. All species of Microsciuropsis are small, light-bodied animals, with slender legs, short heads and most of the species have long tails. They mostly hunt small game, though sometimes they may even go so far as to bring down prey the size of an antelope fawn. But their primary prey are ground squirrels, and some, like M. felina, will prey on small lemurs. Sometimes these little predators will take on prey twice their size and weight. They are diurnal animals, at night these animals burrow into the ground and curl up.
Predators are few during the early Metazoic. Large predatory bats are known to take the smaller species and young. In Batavia, they become common victims of the carnivorous sinecrus like Agriopepta. Barofelids, Deinognathids, Ailurocyonids and dogs are also major predators of these rodents. Large mongooses will also prey on these animals. Then there is also the fact that the larger species also feed on the smaller species. Titanadocus is the largest species, and sometimes preys on the smaller species, like Chaeturotheria.
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