Indian palm squirrel

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Indian palm squirrel
An Indian palm squirrel
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Funambulus
Subgenus: Funambulus
Species: F. palmarum
Binomial name
Funambulus palmarum
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Subspecies[2]
  • F. p. palmarum
  • F. p. brodiei
  • F. p. robertsoni

The Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) also known as three-striped palm squirrel, is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found naturally in India (south of the Vindhyas) and Sri Lanka. In the late 19th century, the palm squirrel was introduced into Western Australia, where it has since become a minor pest that is actively targeted for eradication due to its lack of natural predators.[3] The closely related five-striped palm squirrel Funambulus pennantii is found in northern India, and its range partly overlaps with this species.

Description

Indian palm squirrel, Bangalore, India
An Indian palm squirrel with its pup.

The palm squirrel is about the size of a large chipmunk, with a bushy tail slightly shorter than its body. The back is a grizzled, gray-brown colour with three conspicuous white stripes which run from head to tail. The two outer stripes run from the forelegs to the hind legs only. it has a creamy-white belly and a tail covered with interspersed, long, black and white hair. The ears are small and triangular. Juvenile squirrels have significantly lighter coloration, which gets progressively darker as they age. Albinism is rare, but exists in this species.

A leucistic squirrel, photographed in Nov 2010, in (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Life cycle

An Indian palm squirrel nest

The gestation period is 34 days; breeding takes place in grass nests during the autumn. Litters of two or three are common, and average 2.75. The young are weaned after about 10 weeks and are sexually mature at 9 months. Adult weight is 100 g. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lived 5.5 years in captivity.[4]

Diet and behavior

These squirrels eat mainly nuts and fruits. They are fairly vocal, with a cry that sounds like "chip chip chip" when danger is present. They are opportunists in urban areas, and can be easily domesticated and trained to accept food from humans. Naturally active, their activity reaches levels of frenzy during the mating season. They tend to be very protective of their food sources, often guarding and defending them from birds and other squirrels.

A squirrel eating papaya, January 2011, in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Importance in Hinduism

Squirrels are considered sacred in India and are not to be harmed. They are even fed by many Hindu families. This is mainly because of their association with Lord Rama.

An interesting legend explains the stripes on the back of most of the squirrels. During the construction of the Rama Setu (bridge) at Rameswaram by Lord Rama and the Vanara Sena, a little squirrel also contributed in its own little way. It rolled in the beach sand and then ran to the end of the bridge to shake off the sand from its back (chanting Lord Rama's name all along).

Lord Rama, pleased by the creature's dedication, caressed the squirrel's back and ever since, the Indian squirrel carried white stripes on its back, which are believed to be the mark of Lord Rama's fingers.[5] Lord Rama and the squirrel is mentioned in one of the hymns of the Alvars.

References

  1. ↑ Nameer, P. O. & Molur, S. (2008). Funambulus palmarum. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  2. ↑ Thorington, R.W., Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (3rd ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4. OCLC 26158608. 
  3. ↑ Farmnote 113/2000, Government of Western Australia Department and Agriculture and Food, retrieved 8/14/2008
  4. ↑ Human Ageing Genomic Resources, AnAge database, retrieved 7/30/2007 AnAge entry for Funambulus palmarum
  5. ↑ http://www.ecoheritage.cpreec.org/Viewcontall.php?$mFJyBfK$MkoNJ@juGn2

External links

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