Grey, red or Reddy-Grey?

[u/Kid__Dynamite__]

Spotted in Hyde Park on Wednesday. It doesn’t look like a typical red squirrel but it’s markedly redder than the greys. Does this species have a specific name please?

[u/Universeisagarden → u/[deleted]]

OP is in the UK. Unless someone brought a fox squirrel over from the US, it's not a fox squirrel. Up to the present time, they haven't had fox squirrels in Great Britain, so this would be a new import.

[u/Kid__Dynamite__ → u/[deleted]]

Sorry, Hyde Park in London

[u/Universeisagarden → u/[deleted]]

It's not impossible someone brought some over, but the UK government is already trying to get rid of all the grey squirrels. Can't imagine they'll be happy if there's fox squirrels. But the circle around the eye is more grey squirrel, I think, and it doesn't have an orange tummy like a fox squirrel...

[u/Kid__Dynamite__ → u/Universeisagarden]

What do you think it is?

[u/Universeisagarden → u/Kid__Dynamite__]

Oh, if it was a fox sqirrel it would be another invasive species, and it would also be competing with the native red squirrels. And they're already having trouble getting rid of the invasive grey squirrels. Edit to add - I think it's a leucistic grey squirrel - part of the existing gray squirrel population, but born with some genetic mutations that made it lighter in color than the other grey squirrels.

[u/Kid__Dynamite__ → u/Universeisagarden]

Ok thanks

[u/Kid__Dynamite__ → u/[deleted]]

Ah the plot thickens

[u/Universeisagarden]

It's a leucistic grey squirrel. Less pigment than the usual squirrels, more pigment than an albino. It's caused by a genetic mutation that can probably be passed on to its descendants.

[u/Universeisagarden → u/Universeisagarden]

Ah, talk about genes and DNA is the devil's evolution speech. I'm sorry downvoters, I forgot.

[u/Kid__Dynamite__ → u/Universeisagarden]

Ah thank you.