Indian Giant Squirrel
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| Ratufa indica (Erxleben, 1777) |
The Indian Giant Squirrel, Ratufa indica, is a large forest squirrel found in South Asia. Sometimes called the Malabar Squirrel in India itself, the species is distributed in tropical forest along the Western Ghats, central and north eastern India. Each population is distinctive in colouration and are classified in several races. Its coat can be off-white, red, or almost black, though some colour variations seem to be disappearing. Indian Giant Squirrels rarely leave the treetops. They travel from tree to tree with jumps of up to 6.5m.
Adult size - Up to 1m
Adult weight - 2kg
Native to - Rain forests of eastern India and southeastern Asia including Nepal
[edit] References
- Baillie (1996). Ratufa indica. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU B1+2c v2.3)
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