Ajay Kumar at 21:42, 29 August 2023

2023-08-29T21:42:25Z

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{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Grizzled giant squirrel
| image = Flickr - Rainbirder - Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura).jpg
| image_caption = The highland subspecies
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=de A. Goonatilake, W.L.D.P.T.S. |date=2019 |title=''Ratufa macroura'' |volume=2019 |page=e.T19381A22261644 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T19381A22261644.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| status2 = CITES_A2
| status2_system = CITES
| status2_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}</ref>
| genus = Ratufa
| species = macroura
| authority = ([[Thomas Pennant|Pennant]], 1769)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision_ref = <ref name="Thorington">{{MSW3 Sciuridae | id = 12400030 | page = 757}}</ref>
| subdivision = * ''R. m. macroura''
* ''R. m. dandolena''
* ''R. m. melanochra''
| synonyms = ''Ratufa macroura'' Phillips, 1931 subspecies ''sinhala'' 
''Ratufa macrurus'' Blyth, 1859 subspecies ''albipes'' 
''Sciurus ceilonensis'' Boddaert, 1785 
''Sciurus ceylonensis'' Erxleben, 1777 
''Sciurus ceylonica'' (Erxleben, 1777) 
''Sciurus macrourus'' Pennant, 1769 
''Sciurus macrourus'' Kelaart, 1852 variety ''monatnus'' 
''Sciurus macrourus'' (Kelaart, 1852) variety ''montana'' 
''Sciurus macrura'' Blanford, 1891 
''Sciurus tennentii'' Blyth, 1849 
''Sciurus zeyllanicus'' Day, 1693
| range_map = Ratufa macroura zoomed range map.png
| range_map_caption = Grizzled giant squirrel range
}}

The '''grizzled giant squirrel''' ('''''Ratufa macroura''''') is a large [[tree squirrel]] in the genus ''[[Ratufa]]'' found in the [[Montane forest|highlands]] of the [[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central]] and [[Uva Province|Uva]] provinces of [[Sri Lanka]], and in patches of [[riparian forest]] along the [[Kaveri River]] and in the [[Cloud forest|hill forests]] of [[Karnataka]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]] states of [[southern India]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Srinivasulu|first1=C.|last2=Chakraborty|first2=S.|last3=Pradhan|first3=M.S.|date=February 2004|title=Checklist of sciurids (mammalia: rodentia: sciuridae) of south Asia|journal=Zoos' Print Journal|volume=19|issue=2|page=1356|publisher=Zoo Outreach Organisation|location=Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India|issn=0973-2535|oclc=61770409|url=http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/2004/February/1351-1360.pdf|access-date=28 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603085803/http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/2004/February/1351-1360.pdf|archive-date=2018-06-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)]] lists the species as [[near threatened]] due to [[habitat loss]] and hunting.

==Etymology and common names==
Grizzled giant squirrels are named for the white flecks of hair that cover their greyish-brown bodies, giving them a grizzled look.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://animaladay.blogspot.com/2012/09/grizzled-giant-squirrel.html|title = Grizzled Giant Squirrel}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Ratufa macroura Hardwicke.jpg|thumb|left|Illustration of ''Ratufa macroura'']]
''R. macroura'' is the smallest of the [[Oriental giant squirrel|giant squirrels]] found in the Indian subcontinent, with a head and body length of {{cvt|25|to(-)|45|cm|in|0}}, and tail measuring roughly the same or more, for a total length of {{cvt|50|to(-)|90|cm|in|0}}. It has small rounded ears with pointed tufts. The home range of an individual is between {{cvt|1970|and(-)|6110|m2|ft2}}.

Subspecies ''dandolena'' is dorsally brown grizzled with white. Ventrally light brownish cream. Tail frosted with white fur. Forehead and feet are black in color. Whereas ssp. ''melamochra'', upper parts are jet black which contrast brownish cream to orange yellow ventral surface. Tail frosted with black fur. Snout of both ssp. are pinkish color.

[[File:Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura).jpg|thumb|left]]
Their vision is good, which aids them in detecting predators. Their sense of hearing is relatively poor.<ref name=MSL/> The call is staccato and loud with repeated shrill cackle. It is usually uttered in morning and evening. A low "churr" is also used to communicate with nearby groups.

Hands are normally pentadactylous, with four digits and a rudimentary thumb. Fingers have large broad soft pads, where the inner pad is expanded for gripping while moving through branches. Feet are also comprised with soft pads with both fore and hind limbs possessing long, sharp claws.<ref name=MSL>{{cite book|author=Yapa, A.|author2=Ratnavira, G.|year=2013|title= Mammals of Sri Lanka |publisher=Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka |location= Colombo |pages= 1012|isbn= 978-955-8576-32-8}}</ref>

==Distribution==
[[File:Grizzled sqirrel Chinnar WLS Kerala (67).jpg|thumb|Grizzled giant squirrel from Chinnar wildlife sanctuary]]
In India, ''R. macroura'' has been recorded from [[Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary]], Theni Forest Division, [[Palni Hills]], [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]], Anaimalai Tiger reserve, [[Sirumalai]], Thiruvannamalai Forest Division of the [[Eastern Ghats]], Hosur Forest Division and [[Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Babu |first1= S. |last2=Kalaimani |first2=A. |date=26 February 2014 |title=New site record of Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura from Thiruvannamalai Forest Division, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India |journal=Journal of Threatened Taxa |volume= 6 |issue= 2 |pages= 5492–5493 |url=http://threatenedtaxa.org/ZooPrintJournal/2014/February/o368026ii145492-5493.pdf |access-date=12 March 2014 |doi=10.11609/JoTT.o3680.5492-3|doi-access=free }}</ref> The easternmost population of ''Ratufa macroura dandolena'' was discovered in the [[Pakkamalai Reserve Forest]] in eastern Tamil Nadu.<ref>Vimalraj, S., K. Raman, D. A. Reddy, B. Harkrshnan, B. M. Krshnakumar, and K.M. Selvan (2018) "A new sight record and range exension of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura dandolena (Mammalia: Rodena: Sciurdae) in the Eastern Ghats of southern peninsular India." Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(1): 11240–11242; http:/doi.org/10.11609/jott.3932.10.1.11240-11242</ref>

[[File:GrizzledSquirell-cauvery wls.jpg|thumb|right|''Ratufa macroura macroura'']]
[[File:Ratufa macroura.jpg|thumb|right|''Ratufa macroura melanochra'']]

[[Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary]] is located in Shenbagathoppu, [[Srivilliputtur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India.

==Diet==
''Ratufa macroura'' are known to eat fruits, nuts, insects, bird eggs, and the bark of some trees. The fruit of the climber ''[[Combretum]] ovalifolium'' is an especially important food source where it occurs. Young squirrels, upon first emerging from the nest, have been observed to feed exclusively on this fruit.<ref name="Animal Diversity Web">{{cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ratufa_macroura.html| title=Ratufa macroura - Sri Lankan giant squirrel|year=1999|author=Kane, E.| work=Animal Diversity Wrb| publisher=University of Michigan, Dept of Zoology|access-date=1 June 2014}}</ref>

==Behavior==
Unlike its relatives, the giant squirrel balances using its two hind feet, instead of its tail.

The species is almost entirely an arboreal, very rarely coming to the ground to escape from predators, to flee from an intruder, attack males of the territory, and connecting with females.<ref name=MSL/>

==Subspecies==
The three subspecies are easily recognizable due to color distinctions. They are also geographically separated demes. The table below lists the three recognized subspecies of ''Ratufa macroura'', along with any synonyms associated with each subspecies:<ref name="Thorington" />

According to ''[[Mammals of Sri Lanka (book)|Mammals of Sri Lanka]]'', the three subspecies are identified as follows:

* ''Ratufa macroura macroura''
Males are 35 cm long and females with 37 cm. Tail is 37 cm long in males and 38 cm in females. Jet black dorsal area with a sheen. Rump with white grizzling appearance. Underparts brownish creamy to pale yellow. Tail is with dark black fur with white tip. Face has pink color in naked areas. Fur moderately long with few coarse hairs. Geographically, this subspecies is restricted to central highlands up to 2000m, such as [[Horton Plains]].

* ''Ratufa macroura dandolena''
Males are 37 cm long and females 35 cm. Tail varies from 37 cm in males and 40 cm in females. Males are larger than females. Dorsal surface is brown instead of jet black in subsp. ''macroura''. White rump. Distinct maroon tinge between shoulders. There is a brownish cream crown patch. Underparts are light brownish cream. Tail is dark brown and there is a reddish-brown tip. Fleshy parts of face are pink. Fur moderately long and coarse. Inhabit dry zone parts of the island, as well as India.

* ''Ratufa macroura melanochra''
Males are 35 cm long and females 37 cm. Tail varies from 37 cm in males and 38 cm in females. Upperparts are jet black with contrasting color variation with creamy yellowish ventral surface. Fur is shorter and coarser. Found in low country wet zone, and intermediate zones of the country.

{| class="wikitable
|+ '''''Ratufa macroura''''' '''taxonomy'''
|-
! Subspecies
! Authority
! Synonyms
|-
| ''R. m. macroura''
| Pennant (1769)
| ''albipes, ceilonensis, ceylonica, macrura, montana, tennentii''
|-
| ''R. m. dandolena''
| Thomas and Wroughton (1915)
|
|-
| ''R. m. melanochra''
| Thomas and Wroughton (1915)
| none
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ratufa macroura}}
*ARKive - [https://web.archive.org/web/20060509183322/http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Ratufa_macroura/ images and movies of the grizzled giant squirrel ''(Ratufa macroura)'']
*{{ITIS |id=632413 |taxon=''Ratufa macroura''}}
*[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ratufa_macroura.html Animal Diversity Web]
*[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-rare-courtship-under-the-lens/article19181132.ece Hybridisation]
{{S. Ratufinae-Sciurillinae nav}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1055842}}

[[Category:Ratufa]]
[[Category:Mammals of Asia]]
[[Category:Rodents of India]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1769]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Thomas Pennant]]

Grizzled giant squirrel - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 21:42, 29 August 2023