CreatureData

Eastern gray squirrel vs Mexican gray squirrel

The mexican gray squirrel is heavier: 595 g against 506.5 g for the eastern gray squirrel, about 17% more.

Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Eastern gray squirrel LCLeast Concern
Photo: Dominic Nelson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster)
Mexican gray squirrel LCLeast Concern
Photo: Tereso Hernández Morales · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a eastern gray squirrel and a mexican gray squirrel?

Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.

  • The mexican gray squirrel is heavier: 595 g against 506.5 g for the eastern gray squirrel, about 17% more.
  • The eastern gray squirrel is longer-lived: 23.6 years against 11.3 years for the mexican gray squirrel, about 2.1 times the lifespan.
  • Both belong to the genus Sciurus, so they are close relatives.
  • Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Side by side

Eastern gray squirrelMexican gray squirrel
Scientific nameSciurus carolinensisSciurus aureogaster
FamilySciuridaeSciuridae
OrderRodentiaRodentia
Weight506.5 g – 540.3 g595 g
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan23.6 years11.3 years
Main foodNot recordedNot recorded
HabitatNot recordedNot recorded
Conservation statusLeast ConcernLeast Concern
Countries recorded1Not recorded

A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.

Full record: Eastern gray squirrelFull record: Mexican gray squirrelCompare other animals