Mammals of the WorldJapanese Squirrel
Sciurus lis
- Order
- Rodentia
- Family
- Sciuridae
- Genus
- Sciurus
- IUCN status
- LC
- Distribution
- Japan
- Realm
- Palearctic
About this species
- Size
- Body 16–22cm; tail 13–17cm
- Weight
- 250–310g
- Diet
- Seeds, nuts, buds, flowers, fruit, fungi and some insects
- Habitat
- Natural mixed forest and pine woodland
- Range
- Honshu and Shikoku
The Japanese squirrel is an endemic tree squirrel with brown upperparts, a white belly, large eyes and a bushy tail. Winter fur becomes greyer, and a pale eye ring helps distinguish it from introduced squirrel species. Head-and-body length is about 16–22cm, the tail 13–17cm, and adults weigh approximately 250–310g (Animal Diversity Web; Government of Japan, Native Creatures of Japan 2025).
The species is diurnal and active throughout the year in natural mixed forest and pine woodland. It eats seeds, nuts, buds, flowers, fruit, fungi and occasional insects. Japanese walnuts can form a major part of the diet; animals scatter-hoard them, carrying larger seeds farther before burying them. Adults are mainly solitary, although some share nests during winter (Animal Diversity Web species account).
Description: Wildlife of Japan guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com)