Here's the thing: no one really knows why these giant squirrels evolved to be as bright as they are. They are fairly solitary creatures, avoiding other animals including their own kind. They build large globular nests of twigs and leaves, placing them on thinner branches where large predators can't get to them. The giant squirrel's tail can measure up to two feet on its own. The fur on their bellies is almost always white. When they are newborns, they don’t possess fur or even have eyesight that’s the reason they stay in the nest for 30 days after being born and grow for the next six months. Of course, the Malabar giant squirrel is, indeed, a squirrel, although it looks very different from the squirrels we’re used to seeing in North America. It was possible to obtain a couple of squirrels during Easter 2019 even in exchange for 4,000 Easter Eggs each. Some subspecies are omnivorous, also eating insects and bird eggs. An individual may build several nests in a small area of forest which are used as sleeping quarters, with one being used as a nursery. It’s head along with the body is 25-50 cm in length. Vijayan snapped photos of an Indian giant squirrel in its natural habitat in trees and posted them to Instagram. Weight of Indian giant squirrel is between 1.5 to 2.0 kg. In fact, they can leap up to 20 feet to travel effortlessly between close trees. The Indian giant squirrel or Malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) is a large tree squirrel species endemic to forests and woodlands in India. It is capable of gliding flight using a skin membrane stretched between front and hind legs. The Indian giant squirrel or Malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) is a large tree squirrel species endemic to forests and woodlands in India. The squirrels use their hands to eat while standing on their hind legs. According to the Independent ’s Chiara Giordano, Malabar giant squirrels can measure up to 36 inches, or three feet, from head to tail. In Canara, the Indian Giant Squirrel has been spotted with young in March. [17], The Indian giant squirrel lives alone or in pairs. The Malabar giant squirrel is an upper-canopy dwelling species which means that it rarely leaves its treetop home. Indian Giant squirrel has a lifespan of 16 to 20 years on average. Squirrel specialist Nandini Rajamani, who has extensively studied giant squirrels in the wild, commented on this behaviour: Indian giant flying squirrels (Petaurista philippensis) are nocturnal, and are rarely seen in the day. Erin Kelly is a freelance writer, artist, and video editor that splits her time between the humid Midwest and the dusty corners of her mind. [1][3] It is found at altitudes of 180–2,300 m (590–7,550 ft) in tropical deciduous, semi-deciduous (where often utilizing denser riparian growth), and moist evergreen forests and woodlands. Indian Giant Squirrel Physical Description. They prefer deciduous and evergreen forests. The Indian giant squirrel, or Malabar giant squirrel, is a large tree squirrel species genus Ratufa native to India. While not number one in size, that goes to the black giant squirrel, the Indian giant squirrel (aka Malabar giant squirrel) is a close 2nd. It is distributed in tropical forest along the Western Ghats, central and north eastern India and Nepal. These squirrels are called by local names as Vishal Gilahari in Hindi, Malai- anil in Tamil, Kendalilu in Kannada, Malayanna n in Malayalam, and Shekru in Maharashtra, where it is also the state animal. the same thing is happening to Indian elephants, pop culture has to do with animal extinction. Only the Giant Black Squirrel is … [5], The Indian giant squirrel is one of the largest squirrels with a head–and–body length of 25–50 cm (10 in–1 ft 8 in), a tail that is about the same or somewhat longer, and a weight of 1.5–2 kg (3.3–4.4 lb), although rarely up to 3 kg (6.6 lb). Some subspecies of giant squirrel are omnivorous. Grizzled giant squirrel Large tree squirrel in the genus Ratufa found in the highlands of the Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka, and in patches of riparian forest along the Kaveri River and in the hill forests of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of southern India. But just because the giant squirrel is larger than the average squirrel does not make it any less limber. This family consists of tiny to medium sized rodents including flying squirrels, tree squirrels, chipmunks, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, marmots and woodchucks. Pet Squirrels. Their paws are powerful and specifically designed to grip the bark on the trees in which they live. Despite its size, it does not attain a great weight. It is sometimes called the Malabar Squirrel in India. Giant squirrels also uses their large tail as a counter-weight, improving their balance (Nowak 1999). Giant black Squirrel in cage. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Indeed, they will not usually engage with other squirrels unless they are breeding. Also, among fruits the have a special liking for jackfruit. (2 kg). Stamp Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) it reflects the thematic directions: Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia (also called Metazoa).All animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and independently, at some point in their lives. [8] Its main predators are the birds of prey like owls[15]and the leopard. 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