Sciuridae
 Sciurus niger
(fox squirrel)

Image Caption:
A squirrel kisses another, an act that is probably used in individual identification.  I've observed kissing behavior as part of juvenile play, but in a mating chase, identification kisses also correlate to successful mating, reducing the chance of a female running away from a male before copulation (McCloskey and Shaw, 1977).

<<  Identifying Kiss                                                                >>

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger rufiventer) Kissing

Works Cited: 

McCloskey, R. J. and Shaw, K. C.  (1977).  Copulatory Behavior of the Fox Squirrel.  Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 58, No. 4.

Image Location: United States, South Dakota, McCook County
Image Date: 2008DEC28
Image Species: Sciurus niger rufiventer
 (EXIF Information is accurate – stamped in UTC).

Web Page and Pictures By Peter Leitheiser
Updated: 2009JAN01