One trait that the fox squirrel does not have in common with any of our other squirrels is that its teeth, bones and flesh shine pink when viewed under ultraviolet light.
William,
See if this is what you are looking for…
The bones of the eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), a resident of trees dotting the eastern parts of Canada and the US, glow pink if you shine an ultraviolet light on them. This weirdness is due to uroporphyrin I, an intermediary in the multi-step pathway by which animals make heme. Heme is found in hemoglobin and enables red blood cells to transport oxygen. Unlike their relatives (at least as far as we know), most eastern fox squirrels have a condition called congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP). Essentially, this means one of the enzymes involved in heme manufacture is broken, causing production to stall at the uroporphyrin I step. Fox squirrels have a bunch of this molecule circulating inside them, and it builds up in their skeletons. CEP also occurs in other mammals including humans. Presumably they also have pink bones (I can’t find anything to confirm this, which is a total bummer). Another interesting thing is people with CEP are typically very sick, yet fox squirrels seem to get along just fine with it.
Interesting fact, Terry. Is there any info published about why this occurs?
WOW!! How interesting! I have never heard/read this before. Do we have these in abundance, and are they across GA?
Martha,
They are found across the state; however, they are far more common in South Georgia.
Terry
William,
See if this is what you are looking for…
The bones of the eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), a resident of trees dotting the eastern parts of Canada and the US, glow pink if you shine an ultraviolet light on them. This weirdness is due to uroporphyrin I, an intermediary in the multi-step pathway by which animals make heme. Heme is found in hemoglobin and enables red blood cells to transport oxygen. Unlike their relatives (at least as far as we know), most eastern fox squirrels have a condition called congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP). Essentially, this means one of the enzymes involved in heme manufacture is broken, causing production to stall at the uroporphyrin I step. Fox squirrels have a bunch of this molecule circulating inside them, and it builds up in their skeletons. CEP also occurs in other mammals including humans. Presumably they also have pink bones (I can’t find anything to confirm this, which is a total bummer). Another interesting thing is people with CEP are typically very sick, yet fox squirrels seem to get along just fine with it.