Growth & Reproductive Systems
Does your animal reproduce sexually or asexually?
The Northern Flying Squirrel reproduces sexually, meaning that it requires a partner to reproduce and
consequently makes the genetic makeup of the offspring different from either of the parent organisms.
The Northern Flying Squirrel reproduces sexually, meaning that it requires a partner to reproduce and
consequently makes the genetic makeup of the offspring different from either of the parent organisms.
Does your animal use internal or external fertilization?
The Northern Flying Squirrel makes use of an internal fertilization method utilized by most mammals, including humans. This is due to the fact that the organism is terrestrial (lives on land) and this process of fertilisation is suited to such. External fertilization,on the other hand, is designed for use in aquatic habitats by animals such as fish etc.
The Northern Flying Squirrel makes use of an internal fertilization method utilized by most mammals, including humans. This is due to the fact that the organism is terrestrial (lives on land) and this process of fertilisation is suited to such. External fertilization,on the other hand, is designed for use in aquatic habitats by animals such as fish etc.
Major Organs
Male
Seminal Vesicle
Small wrinkly glands that produce a sticky fluid that together with the milky fluid produced by the prostate gland, helps protect sperm
and move it along.
Urethra
A tube inside the penis through which urine and semem pass out of the body (at different times) via an opening in the glans (head of the penis.
Penis
An external sex organ. A hood of skin, called the foreskin, covers its head (glans).
Epydidymis
Scrunched up tubes (about 600 centimetres long if stretched out) at the back of the testes. Sperm Cells are Stored in these tubes until they mature.
Vas deferens
Tubes (about 45 centimetres long if stretched out) that connects the epididymis to the
urethra. They are wider and straighter than the epididymis.
Testes
Small, apricot-sized lumps in the scrotum where sperm and testosterone are produced.
Scrotum
A baggy skin that holds the testes.
Female
Ovaries
One of the walnut-sized organs that lie either side of the uterus. They contain hundreds of thousands of tiny eggs. At birth, a female
Northern Flying Squirrel has in their ovaries all the eggs she will ever need over the duration of her lifetime.
Fallopian Tubes
One of two tubes that connect each ovary to the uterus. The mature egg released each
month by an ovary travels down one or the otherof these to the uterus.
Uterus
An organ in the abdomen in which a baby develops if a mature egg is fertilised by a sperm cell.
Cervix
The neck of the uterus.
Vagina
A flexible, tube-like passage that connects the cervix to an external opening called the vulva.
Clitoris
An organ, 2-3cm long, most of which lies inside the body. The visible tip, small knob tissue,
contains 4000 to 8000 nerve endings and becomes erect when sexually stimulated.
Vulva
The female external sex organs (that is, what can be seen from the outside)
Ovaries
One of the walnut-sized organs that lie either side of the uterus. They contain hundreds of thousands of tiny eggs. At birth, a female
Northern Flying Squirrel has in their ovaries all the eggs she will ever need over the duration of her lifetime.
Fallopian Tubes
One of two tubes that connect each ovary to the uterus. The mature egg released each
month by an ovary travels down one or the otherof these to the uterus.
Uterus
An organ in the abdomen in which a baby develops if a mature egg is fertilised by a sperm cell.
Cervix
The neck of the uterus.
Vagina
A flexible, tube-like passage that connects the cervix to an external opening called the vulva.
Clitoris
An organ, 2-3cm long, most of which lies inside the body. The visible tip, small knob tissue,
contains 4000 to 8000 nerve endings and becomes erect when sexually stimulated.
Vulva
The female external sex organs (that is, what can be seen from the outside)
Explain the sex cells (sperm and egg)
An explanation of the sex cells, (sperm and egg), where they are made, why they are important and how they related to fertilisation
are explained in the paragraphs to come...
Sperm
The sperm cells are made in the testes, where they are then stored in the epididymis until they mature and fully develop. When mating, the male Northern Flying Squirrel will ejaculate, that is, the sperm will travel through the urethra and will be propelled out of the body and into that of the female organism, where the millions of sperm cells travel up the female reproductive system where they will attempt to fertilise a single egg produced by the ovaries of the female Northern Flying Squirrel. The journey is difficult, and due to the acidic qualities of the female body many of these sperm cells will not make it, hence the reason for so many sperm cells in the first place, and even if they do make it, only one sperm cell is allowed to fertilize the egg and bond with it to produce a zygote.
Eggs
The eggs of the female Northern Flying Squirrel are produced in the ovaries, with the organism having
all the eggs they will ever need upon birth. A single egg is then deposited in the uterus via. the fallopian
tubes every month, waiting to be fertilized by the male sperm cells to produce a zygote - a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes, or sex cells (sperm & egg). The ovary of which the egg comes from alternates each month as not to exhaust the supply of eggs in either of the ovaries. If an egg is fertilized then a period of gestation will be underway and the development of a new organism is imminent, as described below.
An explanation of the sex cells, (sperm and egg), where they are made, why they are important and how they related to fertilisation
are explained in the paragraphs to come...
Sperm
The sperm cells are made in the testes, where they are then stored in the epididymis until they mature and fully develop. When mating, the male Northern Flying Squirrel will ejaculate, that is, the sperm will travel through the urethra and will be propelled out of the body and into that of the female organism, where the millions of sperm cells travel up the female reproductive system where they will attempt to fertilise a single egg produced by the ovaries of the female Northern Flying Squirrel. The journey is difficult, and due to the acidic qualities of the female body many of these sperm cells will not make it, hence the reason for so many sperm cells in the first place, and even if they do make it, only one sperm cell is allowed to fertilize the egg and bond with it to produce a zygote.
Eggs
The eggs of the female Northern Flying Squirrel are produced in the ovaries, with the organism having
all the eggs they will ever need upon birth. A single egg is then deposited in the uterus via. the fallopian
tubes every month, waiting to be fertilized by the male sperm cells to produce a zygote - a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes, or sex cells (sperm & egg). The ovary of which the egg comes from alternates each month as not to exhaust the supply of eggs in either of the ovaries. If an egg is fertilized then a period of gestation will be underway and the development of a new organism is imminent, as described below.
Gestation & Breeding Cycle
The entire gestation period, or time of pregnancy for the Northern Flying Squirrel equates to a total of 44 days, with the breeding season for such an organism being twice a year, February and March in winter, and in June and July in summer whilst yielding one offspring each season. Most Northern Flying Squirrels become sexually mature when they are at about 11 months old, and both sexes may be what is called 'polygamous' (they can have more than one mate), particularly the males. The female is ready to mate for just one day of her cycle, and at this time she sends chemical messages that act as a signal to males telling them that she
is ready to mate. The female is often pursued relentlessly by several males, who are willing to fight amongst each other just for the privilege to mate with her. The time of courtship- for such a creature is very short, as
the two do not mate for life, instead, they simply do the deed and part their ways, leaving the task of
upbringing and parenting the offspring to the female. With the process of internal fertilisation complete, the fertilized eggs, or zygotes, become implanted in the wall of the uterus where they continue to grow and develop as the gestation period progresses.
The entire gestation period, or time of pregnancy for the Northern Flying Squirrel equates to a total of 44 days, with the breeding season for such an organism being twice a year, February and March in winter, and in June and July in summer whilst yielding one offspring each season. Most Northern Flying Squirrels become sexually mature when they are at about 11 months old, and both sexes may be what is called 'polygamous' (they can have more than one mate), particularly the males. The female is ready to mate for just one day of her cycle, and at this time she sends chemical messages that act as a signal to males telling them that she
is ready to mate. The female is often pursued relentlessly by several males, who are willing to fight amongst each other just for the privilege to mate with her. The time of courtship- for such a creature is very short, as
the two do not mate for life, instead, they simply do the deed and part their ways, leaving the task of
upbringing and parenting the offspring to the female. With the process of internal fertilisation complete, the fertilized eggs, or zygotes, become implanted in the wall of the uterus where they continue to grow and develop as the gestation period progresses.
The Lifecycle of a Squirrel
Overall, the entire lifecycle of a squirrel takes place over approximately 6 years in the wild, although they have been observed to live up to 10 years in captivity. In the early weeks of their lives, Northern Flying Squirrels, like all squirrels, are born blind, deaf and hairless, and because of this they are totally dependant on their mother, with this stage of their development continuing for 7 weeks. After this allotted period of time, their senses of sight and hearing are fully developed, their entire body is covered with fur, and they can finally eat solid foods thanks to a fully developed set of incisors, or teeth. By this time, they are able to begin leaving their nests for shorty periods of time until the eighth week when they are fully weaned. After three to four months, the juvenile Northern Flying Squirrel has finally gained a full coat of adult fur, symbolizing their development so far and the fact that they are ready to begin living life for themselves, as they have learnt all the skills and abilities required to do so and consequently leaving them to leave their nest. This stage of individuality continues for some time until about the time of 11 months, where they become sexually mature and are assigned a new task - mating, which essentially repeats the entire gestation and lifecycle process altogether. This stage of the squirrel's life is its last, and continues up until the time where the squirrel meets its end, by predator or otherwise.
Overall, the entire lifecycle of a squirrel takes place over approximately 6 years in the wild, although they have been observed to live up to 10 years in captivity. In the early weeks of their lives, Northern Flying Squirrels, like all squirrels, are born blind, deaf and hairless, and because of this they are totally dependant on their mother, with this stage of their development continuing for 7 weeks. After this allotted period of time, their senses of sight and hearing are fully developed, their entire body is covered with fur, and they can finally eat solid foods thanks to a fully developed set of incisors, or teeth. By this time, they are able to begin leaving their nests for shorty periods of time until the eighth week when they are fully weaned. After three to four months, the juvenile Northern Flying Squirrel has finally gained a full coat of adult fur, symbolizing their development so far and the fact that they are ready to begin living life for themselves, as they have learnt all the skills and abilities required to do so and consequently leaving them to leave their nest. This stage of individuality continues for some time until about the time of 11 months, where they become sexually mature and are assigned a new task - mating, which essentially repeats the entire gestation and lifecycle process altogether. This stage of the squirrel's life is its last, and continues up until the time where the squirrel meets its end, by predator or otherwise.