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| Indian Giant Squirrel |
Indian Giant Squirrel Habitat And Interesting Facts
The Indian giant squirrel is a large-sized and tree-dwelling species. This giant squirrel is a diurnal, arboreal and omnivorous squirrel. This squirrel is the state animal of the state of Maharashtra in western India and is known as Shekharu in the local language (Marathi) there.
The squirrel is mostly solitary and can sometimes be seen in pairs during the mating season. The squirrel is cautious and shy and is mostly active in the morning and evening. During the afternoon, the squirrel rests in tree holes or in large nests made of twigs and leaves. The nest is mostly located in trees.
Each squirrel has 2-5 nests and these are found in a small area. One of these nests is built for producing and caring for the babies and the others are used as a sleeping place. Indian giant squirrels are very agile creatures and are capable of jumping up to about 6 meters while traveling between trees.
When in danger, instead of running away, these squirrels stick to the trunk of the tree or flatten themselves. Apart from this, these squirrels are adept at hiding from predators using camouflage techniques. These squirrels simply freeze when predators are nearby. The brown colour of the body of the Indian giant squirrel helps them hide in any tree.
Indian giant squirrels have a commendable memory and once you feed them their favourite snacks like seeds or bird eggs, they will keep coming to you for some more food in the coming days.
In the book "Squirrels of the World", John Koprowski explains that the purple shade of these giant squirrels acts as a camouflage that helps them protect themselves from predators. Read on to know more about the Indian giant squirrel.
Where Are Indian Giant Squirrel Found
The Indian giant squirrel is also known as the Malabar giant squirrel and this squirrel is native to India. Apart from this, it has 4 subspecies named Ratufa indica indica, Ratufa indica dealbata, Ratufa indica maxima and Ratufa indica centralis.
Indian giant squirrels are mostly found in many areas of the Indian subcontinent and are mostly found living in the southern and western regions of India like Maharashtra, Western Ghats, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Pune, and Madhya Pradesh.
Indian giant squirrels can also be seen in many sanctuaries and national parks like Satpura National Park. This squirrel native to India can be distinguished from other species in many characteristics. The characteristics of Indian giant squirrels are that it is arboreal, diurnal and sedentary.
Indian giant squirrels do not have stripes on their back as compared to common palm tree squirrels. According to Hindu mythology, the striped back is believed to be a symbol of blessings from Lord Rama in the form of love. These squirrels belong to the group of diurnal creatures and search for food or engage in other activities during the morning or evening.
Indian giant squirrels prefer to jump between trees as compared to other squirrels that roam on the ground. Indian giant squirrels are one of the only squirrels that gather their food in trees rather than on the ground.
Scientific Name Of Indian Giant Squirrel
The scientific name of Indian giant squirrel is Ratufa indica and Indian giant squirrel is a tree squirrel that is mostly classified as a rodent. Apart from this, Indian giant squirrel belongs to the mammalian class.
Indian giant squirrels are adorable when it comes to their looks and despite not having colorful fur, their unique dark body colors give them a look that no animal lover can resist.
These squirrels are considered pests and they help in maintaining the balance of their habitat by spreading seeds across the area through their feces. Did you know that the length and weight of the tail of these squirrels is almost equal to its body and their tail helps in maintaining the balance of their body. Read- Wolves Animal | The Most Interesting Facts About Wolves
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| Indian Giant Squirrel Habitat |
Habitat Of Indian Giant Squirrel
Forests are the primary habitat of Indian giant squirrels and their habitat consists of tropical, evergreen and deciduous forests, as well as woodlands and shrublands. Apart from this, the habitat of these squirrels can also be seen in sanctuaries and national parks across the country.
Indian giant squirrels are mostly solitary creatures, which means these squirrels like to live alone but during the breeding season, they are also known to live with their counterparts of the opposite sex.
What Do Indian Giant Squirrel Look Like
Indian giant squirrels have a large body and their color varies in dark shades of red, brown, purple, black and maroon which dominates the entire appearance of these squirrels from head to tail.
Indian giant squirrels have a pink nose, light or dark brown eyes, creamy underside and a long bushy tail. Both male and female Indian giant squirrels have the same appearance.
Size Of Indian Giant Squirrel
The entire body length of the Indian giant squirrel is about 10-18 inches from head to tail and Indian giant squirrels are about 3 times bigger when compared to ordinary squirrels.
How much does an Indian giant squirrel weigh So Indian giant squirrels weigh around 1.5-2 kg irrespective of the sex of the squirrel.
What Do Indian Giant Squirrel Eat
The diet of an Indian giant squirrel is omnivorous and this means that these squirrels enjoy a varied diet which consists of flowers, nuts, fruits, bird eggs, insects and tree bark.
How Do Indian Giant Squirrel Reproduce
Very little is known about the breeding habits of the Indian giant squirrel and the squirrel species is known to engage in breeding throughout the year. But the ideal breeding season for the giant squirrel is between October and January.
It is believed that the males compete to pair with the females and the females search for trees to build their nests throughout the region. The gestation period of Indian giant squirrels ranges from about 28 to 35 days.
After the gestation period Indian giant squirrels give birth to one or two babies but with a maximum number of three. It takes some time for the babies of Indian giant squirrels to be able to find their own food.
How Long Do Indian Giant Squirrel Live
Indian giant squirrels can live up to 20 years as a pet or in a zoo and the Indian giant squirrel may even live more than 20 years in the wild but no conclusive statement can be made due to lack of information.
How Fast Can Indian Giant Squirrel Run
An Indian giant squirrel can reach speeds of up to about 32 kilometers per hour and are full of vigor which can cover long distances by moving from one tree to another by leaping up to 6 meters or more due to their strong hind legs.
How Do Indian Giant Squirrel Communicate
An Indian giant squirrel uses its tail for signaling purposes and when it senses danger around like predators then Indian giant squirrels wag their tails to warn others. Read- Long-Tailed Tit Habitat And Interesting Facts With Picture
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| Indian Giant Squirrel Habitat |
How many Indian Giant Squirrel Are There In The World
The exact number of Indian giant squirrels cannot be ascertained without proper information. But IUCN has said that the population of Indian giant squirrels is continuously declining. According to the observations of IUCN the Indian giant squirrel is not vulnerable or endangered.
If newspaper reports are to be taken into consideration then it is reported that a survey was conducted by the forest department in areas like Ambegaon, Pune and Thane and according to them the total number of nests was around 12,870 with around 2,145 Indian giant squirrels living in the area.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, the population of these squirrels is of least concern. But according to reports, the population of the Indian giant squirrel is currently declining.
The population of Indian giant squirrels has seen a decline and the reason for the decrease in the population can be attributed to climate change and the destruction of their habitat.
Deforestation, mining and construction projects are considered to be the major threats to the habitat of the Indian giant squirrel. However, efforts are being made by the forest department to save the Indian giant squirrel from the onslaught of extinction.
Behavior Of Indian Giant Squirrel
Indian giant squirrels may not be very social or friendly but Indian giant squirrels are not known for aggressive nature. Tree-dwelling Indian giant squirrels are not kept as pets.
There are instances where Indian giant squirrels have been domesticated. It may appear that the Indian giant squirrel has friendly habits and comes for food but it is a rodent with sharp claws. The scratches and bites of the Indian giant squirrel can make a person vulnerable to fatal diseases.
Indian Giant Squirrel Facts For Kids
1. Which is the largest squirrel in the world?
The largest squirrel in the world is the Indian giant squirrel and can be seen in the deciduous and moist evergreen forests of peninsular India. The body length of the Indian giant squirrel is about 10-18 inches from head to tail.
2. Can the Indian giant squirrel fly?
The squirrel has a hairy membrane called patagium that extends from its wrists to its ankles, allowing the Indian giant squirrel to glide up to 100 metres between trees.
3. Is the Indian giant squirrel endangered in Maharashtra?
The Indian giant squirrel is restricted to the Western Ghats region and is currently classified as a least concern species on the IUCN Red List.
4. What are Indian squirrels called?
The Indian squirrel refers to different species found in India and the most famous of these is the Indian palm squirrel which is recognizable for its small size and three stripes on its back.
5. What is the colour of the Indian giant squirrel?
Famous for its attractive colours, this squirrel has a creamy-beige belly and arms. The rest of the Indian giant squirrel's fur is a mixture of orange, purple and red, which is why it is also called the "rainbow squirrel". Reaching a length of up to three feet, the Indian giant squirrel holds the title of the world's largest squirrel species.
6. What is the national animal of Maharashtra?
The state animal of Maharashtra is the Indian giant squirrel and is also known as the Malabar giant squirrel. In the Marathi language of the state, it is known as Shekru.
7. Do Indian squirrels carry rabies?
Indian squirrels can carry rabies if infected and such cases are rare. It is important to be cautious around any wild animal in case they are behaving strangely.
8. Why is the Indian giant squirrel endangered?
Things are not going so well for the Indian giant squirrel among the squirrels. Habitat loss due to deforestation and degradation has brought the Indian giant squirrel to the brink of local extinction in some areas.
9. What is the name of Indian giant squirrel in Marathi?
This giant squirrel is known as Shekaru in Marathi language and is also the state animal of Maharashtra.
10. What is the local name of the Indian giant squirrel?
The Indian giant squirrel is also known by its local names including Vishal Gilgril in Hindi, Malai-Anil in Tamil, Kendalilu in Kannada, Malayannan in Malayalam and Shekaru in Marathi in the state of Maharashtra where it is also the state animal.