Indian Palm Squirrel
| Indian palm squirrel | |
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| An Indian palm squirrel | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Genus: | Funambulus |
| Subgenus: | Funambulus |
| Species: | F. palmarum |
| Binomial name | |
| Funambulus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1766) |
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| Subspecies[2] | |
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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 a pet.[3] 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 targeted for eradication due to its lack of natural predators.[4] The closely related five-striped palm squirrel Funambulus pennantii is found in northern India, and its range partly overlaps with this species.
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[edit] Description
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The palm squirrel is about the size of a rat, with a bushy tail slightly shorter than its body. The 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. it has a creamy-white belly and a tail covered with interspersed, long, black and white hairs. The 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.
[edit] Life cycle
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The gestation period is 34 days; bBreeding takes place in grass nests during the autumn. Litters of two or three are common, and average 2.75. The young are weaned after about 10 weeks and are sexually mature at 9 months. Adult weight is 100 g. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lived 5.5 years in captivity.[5]
[edit] 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 of their food sources, often guarding and defending them from birds and other squirrels.
[edit] Importance in Hinduism
The stripes on the palm squirrel's back are explained by a Hindu legend, which 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 marks of Rama's fingers were left on the squirrel ever since.[6] This association with Lord Rama explains why squirrels are considered sacred in India. The legend of Lord Rama and the squirrel started in Tamil Nadu. Lord Rama and the squirrel is mentioned in one of the hymns of the Alvars.
[edit] References
- ^ Nameer, P. O. & Molur, S. (2008). Funambulus palmarum. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 6 January 2009.
- ^ Thorington, R.W., Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (3rd ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4. OCLC 26158608. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?s=y&id=12400001.
- ^ http://living.oneindia.in/home-n-garden/pet-care/pet-care-tips-household-squirrels.html
- ^ Farmnote 113/2000, Government of Western Australia Department and Agriculture and Food, retrieved 8/14/2008 [1]
- ^ Human Ageing Genomic Resources, AnAge database, retrieved 7/30/2007 AnAge entry for Funambulus palmarum
- ^ Indian Striped Squirrel
[edit] External Links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Funambulus palmarum |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Funambulus palmarum |
