Indian Palm Squirrel
Encyclopedia
The Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) also known as Three-Striped Palm Squirrel, is a species of rodent
in the Sciuridae family that can be easily domesticated and kept as pets. It is found naturally in India
(south of the Vindhyas) and Sri Lanka
. In the late 19th century, the Palm Squirrel was accidentally introduced into Western Australia
where it has since become a minor pest that is actively eradicated due to its lack of natural predators. The closely related Five-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennantii is found in northern India but partly overlaps in range with this species.
creamy white belly and a tail covered with interspersed long black and white hairs. Their 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.
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Gestation
period is 34 days. Litter size averages 2.75 (viviparous). Breeding takes place in grass nests during autumn. Litters of two or three are common. The young are weaned after about ten weeks and are sexually mature at nine months. Adult weight is 100 g. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lived 5.5 years in captivity.
legend. The legend has it that a squirrel helped in the construction of the Adi sethu (bridge) at Rameswaram. The bridge was being constructed by Lord Rama
and the Vanara Sena
, and the squirrel played its part by rolling in beach sand then running to the bridge to shake the sand from its back, all the time chanting Lord Rama's name. Lord Rama was pleased by the creature's dedication and, in stroking the squirrel's back, the mark of Rama's fingers was left on the squirrel ever since. This association with Lord Rama explains why squirrels are considered sacred in India. The legend of Lord Ram and the squirrel started in Tamil Nadu. Lord Ram and the squirrel is mentioned in one of the hymns of the Alvars.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the Sciuridae family that can be easily domesticated and kept as pets. It is found naturally in 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...
(south of the Vindhyas) and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. In the late 19th century, the Palm Squirrel was accidentally introduced into Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
where it has since become a minor pest that is actively eradicated due to its lack of natural predators. The closely related Five-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennantii is found in northern India but partly overlaps in range with this species.
Description
Palm squirrels are about the size of rats with a bushy tail which is slightly shorter than their body. Their 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. They have acreamy white belly and a tail covered with interspersed long black and white hairs. Their ears are small and triangular. Juvenile squirrels have significantly lighter coloration, which gets progressively darker as they age. Albinism
Albinism
Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of melanin...
is rare, but exists in this species.
Life Cycle
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
period is 34 days. Litter size averages 2.75 (viviparous). Breeding takes place in grass nests during autumn. Litters of two or three are common. The young are weaned after about ten weeks and are sexually mature at nine months. Adult weight is 100 g. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lived 5.5 years in captivity.
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 over their food sources, often guarding and defending them from birds and other squirrels.Importance in Hinduism
The stripes on the Palm Squirrel's back are explained by a HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
legend. The legend has it that a squirrel helped in the construction of the Adi sethu (bridge) at Rameswaram. The bridge was being constructed by Lord Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
and the Vanara Sena
Vanara Sena
According to Hindu beliefs the Army of Monkeys or vanaras, helped Lord Rama fight the armies of Ravan of Lanka in the epic Ramayana.It also was the name of an organization of young Indian boys and girls created by the young Indira Gandhi in the late 1920s and early 1930s, as the children's wing of...
, and the squirrel played its part by rolling in beach sand then running to the bridge to shake the sand from its back, all the time chanting Lord Rama's name. Lord Rama was pleased by the creature's dedication and, in stroking the squirrel's back, the mark of Rama's fingers was left on the squirrel ever since. This association with Lord Rama explains why squirrels are considered sacred in India. The legend of Lord Ram and the squirrel started in Tamil Nadu. Lord Ram and the squirrel is mentioned in one of the hymns of the Alvars.
External Links
- Funambulus palmarum on WikispeciesWikispeciesWikispecies is a wiki-based online project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aim is to create a comprehensive free content catalogue of all species and is directed at scientists, rather than at the general public...