What is the name of a squirrel crossed with a rat? - briefly
No scientifically recognized hybrid exists between a squirrel and a rat; colloquially, such a fictional cross might be called a “squirrat.” This term is informal and not used in zoological classification.
What is the name of a squirrel crossed with a rat? - in detail
The combination of a Sciuridae member with a Muridae member cannot occur naturally because the two groups belong to distinct families with incompatible chromosome numbers and reproductive mechanisms. Consequently, no scientifically recognized hybrid exists, and no formal binomial name has been assigned.
When a fictional or artistic blend is described, naming follows informal conventions:
- Portmanteau approach – merging the common names, e.g., “squirrat” or “rat‑squirrel.”
- Latinized hybrid – using the genus names Sciurus and Rattus to form a coined epithet such as Sciurattus or Rattusciurus.
- Descriptive term – a phrase like “squirrel‑rat chimera” that conveys the mixed characteristics without implying taxonomic legitimacy.
Each option reflects a different priority: brevity, taxonomic mimicry, or descriptive clarity. In scientific literature, any such term would be marked as a hypothetical construct, not a recognized species.