Northern Palm Squirrel Did you see this animal?
Scientific Name : Funambulus pennantii
Family : Sciuridae
Order : Rodentia
Class : Mammalia
Phylum : Chordata
Other Name : Five-striped Palm Squirrel
Habitat : Forest, Shrubland, Grassland
Description : The Northern Palm Squirrel has a distinctive appearance, with a bushy tail and soft, silky fur that ranges in color from gray-brown to reddish-brown. They have a creamy-white underbelly and dark stripes along their back. Adults typically measure between 15 and 25 cm in length, with their tail accounting for roughly half of their total body length.
These squirrels are diurnal and arboreal, meaning they are active during the day and spend most of their time in trees. They are agile climbers and are able to run along branches and jump between trees with ease. They are also known to dig burrows in the ground or in the crevices of buildings.
Northern Palm Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they eat a wide variety of foods. Their diet includes fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates such as lizards and birds' eggs. They have also been known to scavenge for food in garbage dumps and human settlements.
These squirrels are known for their acrobatic abilities, which include leaping from tree to tree, running along power lines, and even "tightrope walking" along thin branches. They are also vocal animals, using a variety of chirps and calls to communicate with other squirrels.
Northern Palm Squirrels are known for their ability to store food for future use. They have cheek pouches that they use to carry food, and they will bury food items in caches for later retrieval. This behavior helps them to survive during times of scarcity, such as during the dry season when food may be less abundant.
During the breeding season, male Northern Palm Squirrels will compete for access to females. They will engage in aggressive behavior such as chasing and biting in order to establish dominance. Females typically give birth to 2-3 offspring at a time, which they raise in a nest made of leaves and twigs.
Northern Palm Squirrels are not considered threatened, and their populations are widespread and abundant throughout their range. They are adaptable and able to thrive in a variety of habitats, including urban areas, farmland, and forests. They are sometimes kept as pets, and their friendly and playful nature has made them a popular choice among animal lovers.
These squirrels are diurnal and arboreal, meaning they are active during the day and spend most of their time in trees. They are agile climbers and are able to run along branches and jump between trees with ease. They are also known to dig burrows in the ground or in the crevices of buildings.
Northern Palm Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they eat a wide variety of foods. Their diet includes fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates such as lizards and birds' eggs. They have also been known to scavenge for food in garbage dumps and human settlements.
These squirrels are known for their acrobatic abilities, which include leaping from tree to tree, running along power lines, and even "tightrope walking" along thin branches. They are also vocal animals, using a variety of chirps and calls to communicate with other squirrels.
Northern Palm Squirrels are known for their ability to store food for future use. They have cheek pouches that they use to carry food, and they will bury food items in caches for later retrieval. This behavior helps them to survive during times of scarcity, such as during the dry season when food may be less abundant.
During the breeding season, male Northern Palm Squirrels will compete for access to females. They will engage in aggressive behavior such as chasing and biting in order to establish dominance. Females typically give birth to 2-3 offspring at a time, which they raise in a nest made of leaves and twigs.
Northern Palm Squirrels are not considered threatened, and their populations are widespread and abundant throughout their range. They are adaptable and able to thrive in a variety of habitats, including urban areas, farmland, and forests. They are sometimes kept as pets, and their friendly and playful nature has made them a popular choice among animal lovers.
Distribution in Bangladesh
Other Species from Group
-
Dremomys lokriah
(Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel) -
Tamiops macclellandi
(Himalayan Striped Squirrel) -
Ratufa bicolor
(Black Giant Squirrel) -
Suncus etruscus
(White- toothed Pigmy Shrew) -
Hylopetes alboniger
(Particolored Flying Squirrel) -
Suncus murinus
(House shrew) -
Callosciurus pygerythrus
(Irrawaddy Squirrel) -
Petaurista petaurista
(Common Giant Flying Squirrel) -
Callosciurus erythraeus
(Pallas’s Squirrel) -
Petaurista magnificus
(Hodgson’s Giant Flying Squirrel)
References:
description written by:Asad U. Tanvir,Department of Zoology,Jagannath University,Dhaka; reviewed by:Muntasir Akash,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka;Taxonomic Checklist:Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals, 2015, IUCN; information sources:iucnredlist.org, Khan 2018 (Photographic guide to the wildlife of Bangladesh), photo credit:Sean A. Higgins(www.inaturalist.org/people/yvesbas), photo copyright: iNaturalist.more information please contact with us.
description written by:Asad U. Tanvir,Department of Zoology,Jagannath University,Dhaka; reviewed by:Muntasir Akash,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka;Taxonomic Checklist:Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals, 2015, IUCN; information sources:iucnredlist.org, Khan 2018 (Photographic guide to the wildlife of Bangladesh), photo credit:Sean A. Higgins(www.inaturalist.org/people/yvesbas), photo copyright: iNaturalist.more information please contact with us.