Callosciurus
Encyclopedia
Callosciurus is a genus of squirrel
s collectively referred to as the "Beautiful squirrels". They are found mainly in Southeast Asia
, though a few species also occur in Nepal
, northeastern India
, Bangladesh
and southern China
. Several of the species have settled on islands. In total, the genus contains 15 species and numerous varieties and subspecies. The genera Glyphotes, Rubrisciurus, and Tamiops have sometimes been included in Callosciurus.
Most squirrels in Callosciurus live in tropical rain forests, but some individuals live in parks and gardens in cities. In the trees, they build their nests out of plant material. They are solitary, and give birth to one to five young. Their food consists of nuts, fruits, and seeds, and also of insects and bird eggs.
, Laos
, Myanmar
, Thailand
, and Vietnam
. The subspecies C. f. floweri, which is adapted to urban parks and gardens around Bangkok has been introduced in the Serangoon area of Singapore
. Its color is extremely variable; over 15 subspecies are recognised, including C. f. ferrugineus which has been treated as a separate species. The subspecific
name of C. f. boonsongi commemorates Thai zoologist and conservationist Dr. Boonsong Lekagul
.
found in forests, plantations and gardens in Peninsular Malaysia
, Thailand
, southern Myanmar
, southern China
(Yunnan
) and possibly western Laos
. They have been introduced
to the Ryukyu Islands
in Japan. As suggested by the name, the belly is usually gray, though sometimes reddish on the sides. Depending on subspecies and season, the upperparts are gray, yellowish-olive or reddish. C. caniceps spp. are listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.
Subspecies include:
Subspecies include:
, Rubrisciurus rubriventer), includes over 20 subspecies with various colorings. The color of the belly is actually highly variable and may show no red at all. Pallas's Squirrel is found in forests from far eastern India
and Bhutan
, through Indochina
, to the Thai-Malay Peninsula and southern and eastern China
(including Taiwan
). There are also introduced populations in the Buenos Aires Province
of Argentina
, Dadizele in Belgium
(where first mistaken for Père David's rock squirrel
), Cap d'Antibes in France
, and in Japan
. In these regions it is considered an invasive species
, as it can cause considerable damage to tree
s and may outcompete native wildlife such as the Red Squirrel
.
, Malaysia, Singapore
and Thailand
, in a wide range of habitats: forests, mangroves, parks, gardens, agricultural areas. Fruit farmers consider them to be pests.
The body is about 20 – long with a similar sized tail. It is greyish/brown with a chestnut underside and a black and white stripe between the two.
Its diet consists mostly of leaves and fruits, but also may include insects and bird eggs. Plantain squirrels are known to break open twigs that contain ant larvae to eat them, and they can eat fruits much bigger than them, such as mangoes, jackfruit
s or coconuts
. They are very quick and agile in trees, able to jump a few meters between trees and rarely wander on the ground.
, Borneo
and nearby smaller islands, with an introduced
population in northern Sulawesi
. They eat fruits, nuts, seeds, buds, flower
s, insect
s and bird egg
s. These squirrel
s carry the fruit
s far from the tree and drop the seeds when finished with their meal. Spread far from the parent tree the seeds have a reduced likelihood to be eaten by other animals and greater opportunity to produce a new generation of plants.
The "typical" subspecies
(for example C. p. prevostii from the Thai-Malay Peninsula) of Prevost's Squirrel are among the most colourful mammals in the world with their black upperparts and tail, reddish-orange underparts, and whitish thighs and flanks. The markings in some subspecies are duller, and C. prevostii pluto from northeastern Borneo is reddish-orange below and black above (no whitish thighs or flanks).
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s collectively referred to as the "Beautiful squirrels". They are found mainly in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, though a few species also occur in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, northeastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Several of the species have settled on islands. In total, the genus contains 15 species and numerous varieties and subspecies. The genera Glyphotes, Rubrisciurus, and Tamiops have sometimes been included in Callosciurus.
Species
There are approximately 15 species in this genus, and over 60 subspecies. The length of these squirrels is between 13 centimetre, not including the 13 centimetre long tail. Most are rather dull olive-brown to gray and several have a pale and dark stripe on their side, but a few are indeed very colorful. The Pallas squirrel may have an unremarkable olive-gray back, while its belly is often –but not always– bright red. The "typical" subspecies of Prevost's squirrels have black backs, white sides, and red-brown undersides. The Finlayson's squirrel occurs in numerous varieties, three of which are overall red-brown, overall black, or pure white.Most squirrels in Callosciurus live in tropical rain forests, but some individuals live in parks and gardens in cities. In the trees, they build their nests out of plant material. They are solitary, and give birth to one to five young. Their food consists of nuts, fruits, and seeds, and also of insects and bird eggs.
- Anderson's squirrel (Callosciurus quinquestriatus) is made up of two subspecies, C. q. quinqestriatus andC. q. imarius. This species is found throughout China and Myanmar, but is listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN due to habitat loss.
- The Black-striped squirrel (Callosciurus nigrovittatus) is found throughout JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Sumatra, southern ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, the Malay Peninsula, and numerous small islands. This taxon consists of four subspecies: C. n. nigrovittatus, C. n. bilimitatus, C. n. bocki, and C. n. klossi. It is listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN.
- The Borneo black-banded squirrelBorneo Black-banded SquirrelThe Borneo Black-banded Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family.It is endemic to northern Borneo .-Distribution:...
(Callosciurus orestes) is endemic to northern Borneo, and listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.
- The Ear-spot squirrel (Callosciurus adamsi), endemic to northern BorneoBorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, listed as "VulnerableVulnerable speciesOn 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
" by the IUCN.
- The Inornate squirrel (Callosciurus inornatus) is distributed across LaosLaosLaos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and the Chinese province of YunnanYunnanYunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
. This squirrel was once considered a subspecies of Callosciurus pygerythrus, and as a result several texts inaccurately cite C. pygerythrus as being found in these areas. The reclassification was based on different furFurFur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
characteristics, placing it closer in relation to C. caniceps. It is listed as "Least Concern" by IUCN.
- The Kinabalu squirrel (Callosciurus baluensis), endemic to northeastern Borneo, specifically the wide area around Mount KinabaluMount KinabaluMount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay...
. Its tail and upperparts are grizzled blackish, the underparts are reddish-orange, and the flanks have a narrow buffBuff (colour)Buff is a pale yellow-brown colour that got its name from the colour of buff leather.Displayed on the right is the colour buff.EtymologyAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, buff as a descriptor of a colour was first used in the London Gazette of 1686, describing a uniform to be "A Red Coat...
stripe with a broader black stripe below. This species is listed as "Least ConcernLeast ConcernLeast Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
" by the IUCN.
- Kloss's squirrel (C. albescens), endemic to northern SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, population data is insufficient to asses its endangerment status according to the IUCN. It is debated whether it is a subspecies of C. notatus, which would make Kloss's squirrel instead be named C. notatus albescens.
- The Mentawai squirrel (Callosciurus melanogaster) is one of 20 or so species native to the Mentawai IslandsMentawai IslandsThe Mentawai Islands are a chain of about seventy islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Siberut is the largest of the islands. The other major islands are Sipura, North Pagai and South Pagai . The islands lie approximately 150 km off the Sumatran coast, across the...
off the west coast of Sumatra. It is further dived into three subspecies: C. m. melanogaster, C. m. mentawi, and C. m. atratus. This small isolated population is listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN due to habitat loss.
- Phayre's squirrel (Callosciurus phayrei) is found in China and southern MyanmarMyanmarBurma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, it listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.
Finlayson's squirrel
Finlayson's Squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii, misspelled C. finlaysoni) or the Variable Squirrel is found in CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The subspecies C. f. floweri, which is adapted to urban parks and gardens around Bangkok has been introduced in the Serangoon area of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Its color is extremely variable; over 15 subspecies are recognised, including C. f. ferrugineus which has been treated as a separate species. The subspecific
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
name of C. f. boonsongi commemorates Thai zoologist and conservationist Dr. Boonsong Lekagul
Boonsong Lekagul
Dr Boonsong Lekagul was a Thai medical doctor, biologist, ornithologist and conservationist.He was born at Songkhla in southern Thailand and received a medical degree from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in 1933. In 1935 he established Thailand’s first polyclinic in Bangkok...
.
- C. f. finlaysonii
- C. f. albivexilli
- C. f. folletti
- C. f. frandseni
- C. f. germaini
- C. f. harmandi
- C. f. trotteri
- C. f. annellatus
- C. f. bocourti
- C. f. boonsongi
- C. f. cinnamomeus
- C. f. ferrugineus
- C. f. menamicus
- C. f. nox
- C. f. sinistralis
- C. f. williamsoni
Gray-bellied squirrel
Gray-bellied squirrels (Callosciurus caniceps) consist of six subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
found in forests, plantations and gardens in Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, southern Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
) and possibly western Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. They have been introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
to the Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
in Japan. As suggested by the name, the belly is usually gray, though sometimes reddish on the sides. Depending on subspecies and season, the upperparts are gray, yellowish-olive or reddish. C. caniceps spp. are listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.
Subspecies include:
- C. c. caniceps
- C. c. adangensis
- C. c. bimaculatus
- C. c. casensis
- C. c. concolor
- C. c. domelicus
Irrawaddy squirrel
- The Irrawaddy squirrel (Callosciurus pygerythrus) is made up of seven subpsecies found throughout BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, MyanmarMyanmarBurma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, and NepalNepalNepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. It is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.
Subspecies include:
- C. p. pygerythrus
- C. p. blythii
- C. p. janetta
- C. p. lokroides
- C. p. mearsi
- C. p. owensi
- C. p. stevensi
Pallas's squirrel
Pallas's squirrel (C. erythraeus), also known as the Red-bellied tree squirrel (but not the Red-bellied squirrelRed-bellied squirrel
The Red-bellied squirrel is a species of squirrel. Until recently, it was described as a species in the genus Callosciurus, but since the 1990s it is generally placed in its own genus Rubrisciurus. It is endemic on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. With a length of 25 cm , it is rather large...
, Rubrisciurus rubriventer), includes over 20 subspecies with various colorings. The color of the belly is actually highly variable and may show no red at all. Pallas's Squirrel is found in forests from far eastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, through Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
, to the Thai-Malay Peninsula and southern and eastern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(including Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
). There are also introduced populations in the Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Dadizele in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(where first mistaken for Père David's rock squirrel
Père David's Rock Squirrel
The Père David's rock squirrel , also known as the Chinese rock squirrel, is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to China, where it is found widely in rocky habitats in the eastern and central parts of the country...
), Cap d'Antibes in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In these regions it is considered an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, as it can cause considerable damage to tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s and may outcompete native wildlife such as the Red Squirrel
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
.
- C. e. erythraeus
- C. e. atrodorsalis
- C. e. bartoni
- C. e. bhutanensis
- C. e. bonhotei
- C. e. castaneoventris
- C. e. erythrogaster
- C. e. flavimanus
- C. e. gloveri
- C. e. gordoni
- C. e. griseimanus
- C. e. harringtoni
- C. e. hendeei
- C. e. hyperythrus
- C. e. intermedius
- C. e. michianus
- C. e. ningpoensis
- C. e. pranis
- C. e. rubeculus
- C. e. shanicus
- C. e. siamensis
- C. e. sladeni
- C. e. styani
- C. e. thai
- C. e. thaiwanensis
- C. e. zimmeensis
Plantain squirrel
The Plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus), is also one of several species called the Oriental squirrel or Tricolored squirrel. It is found in IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, in a wide range of habitats: forests, mangroves, parks, gardens, agricultural areas. Fruit farmers consider them to be pests.
The body is about 20 – long with a similar sized tail. It is greyish/brown with a chestnut underside and a black and white stripe between the two.
Its diet consists mostly of leaves and fruits, but also may include insects and bird eggs. Plantain squirrels are known to break open twigs that contain ant larvae to eat them, and they can eat fruits much bigger than them, such as mangoes, jackfruit
Jackfruit
The jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
s or coconuts
COcOnuts
COcOnuts is the second album released by Jane, comprising Animal Collective member Panda Bear, and Scott Mou. It was originally self-released on CD-R's, but later became the first album released by Psych-o-path Records in 2005. The Psych-o-path version was remastered by Rusty Santos and Edik Kleyner....
. They are very quick and agile in trees, able to jump a few meters between trees and rarely wander on the ground.
Prevost's squirrel
Prevost's squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii), or Asian tri-colored squirrel, is found in forest in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, SumatraSumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
and nearby smaller islands, with an introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
population in northern Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
. They eat fruits, nuts, seeds, buds, flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s, insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and bird egg
Bird egg
Bird eggs are laid by females and incubated for a time that varies according to the species; a single young hatches from each egg. Average clutch sizes range from one to about 17...
s. These squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s carry the fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s far from the tree and drop the seeds when finished with their meal. Spread far from the parent tree the seeds have a reduced likelihood to be eaten by other animals and greater opportunity to produce a new generation of plants.
The "typical" subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
(for example C. p. prevostii from the Thai-Malay Peninsula) of Prevost's Squirrel are among the most colourful mammals in the world with their black upperparts and tail, reddish-orange underparts, and whitish thighs and flanks. The markings in some subspecies are duller, and C. prevostii pluto from northeastern Borneo is reddish-orange below and black above (no whitish thighs or flanks).