Indian Palm Squirrel

About this species

Diet

Mostly nuts and fruit; also insects, smaller mammals and reptiles

Range

India south of the Vindhyas, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; introduced to several islands

Litter size

2–3, average 2.75

Gestation

34 days

The Indian palm squirrel, or three-striped palm squirrel, is about the size of a large chipmunk, with a bushy tail slightly shorter than its body. The back is a grizzled grey-brown with three conspicuous white stripes from head to tail, the two outer stripes running only from forelegs to hind legs. The belly is creamy white, the tail carries long black and white hairs, and the ears are small and triangular. A legend explains the stripes (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is found naturally in India south of the Vindhyas, in Bangladesh and in Sri Lanka, where it overlaps in part with the five-striped palm squirrel of northern India. It is solitary, except for mating and raising young, and mostly eats nuts and fruit but also insects, smaller mammals and reptiles. Gestation is 34 days and litters of two or three are common, born in grass nests in autumn; the young are weaned after about ten weeks and mature at nine months (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)