Ajay Kumar at 23:46, 29 August 2023

2023-08-29T23:46:32Z

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{{Short description|Species of squirrel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Indian giant squirrel
| image = Ratufa indica (Bhadra, 2006).jpg
| image_caption = ''R. i. indica'' in [[Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Karnataka]], India
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Molur, S. |date=2016 |title=''Ratufa indica'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T19378A22262028 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T19378A22262028.en |access-date=19 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|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205014647/https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
| genus = Ratufa
| species = indica
| authority = ([[Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben|Erxleben]], 1777)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision_ref = <ref name="Thorington">{{cite book |last1=Thorington |first1=R.W. Jr. |last2=Hoffmann |first2=R.S. |year=2005 |pages=754–818 |editor1-last=Wilson |editor1-first=D.E. |editor2-last=Reeder |editor2-first=D.M |url=http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3 |chapter=Ratufa indica |chapter-url=https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=12400025 |title=Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference |edition=3rd |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=0-8018-8221-4 |oclc=26158608 |access-date=21 February 2010 |archive-date=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620141013/http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| subdivision =
* ''R. i. indica''
* ''R. i. centralis''
* ''R. i. dealbata''
* ''R. i. maxima''
| range_map = Ratufa indica range map.svg
| range_map_caption = Indian giant squirrel range
}}

The '''Indian giant squirrel''' or '''Malabar giant squirrel''' ('''''Ratufa indica''''') is a large multi-coloured [[tree squirrel]] species [[endemic]] to forests and woodlands in [[India]]. It is a [[Diurnal animal|diurnal]], [[arboreal]], and mainly [[herbivorous]] [[squirrel]].<ref name=datta_p394>{{Harv|Datta|Goyal|1996|p=394}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
This species is [[Endemism|endemic]] to India, with main sections of its distribution in the [[Western Ghats]], [[Eastern Ghats]] and [[Satpura Range]] as far north as [[Madhya Pradesh]] (approximately [[22nd parallel north|22° N]]).<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /><ref name=datta_p394/> It is found at altitudes of {{cvt|180-2300|m|ft}} in tropical [[deciduous]], [[semi-deciduous]] (where often utilizing denser [[Riparian forest|riparian growth]]), and moist [[evergreen]] forests and woodlands.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /><ref name=datta_p394/><ref name=Thorington2012>{{cite book | last=Thorington |first=R.W., Jr. | author2=J.L. Koprowski | author3=M.A. Steele | author4=J.F. Whatton | year=2012 | title=Squirrels of the World | pages=26–27 | publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore | isbn=978-1-4214-0469-1 }}</ref> In general, its distribution is fragmented because it is intolerant of habitat degradation.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> The Indian giant squirrel generally nests in taller trees with a mean height of {{cvt|11|m|0}} (±{{cvt|3|m|0}} [[Standard deviation|SD]]) in order to avoid predators.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pradhan |first1=A.K. |last2=Shrotriya |first2=S. |last3=Rout |first3=S.D. |last4=Dash |first4=P.K. |title=Nesting and feeding habits of the Indian giant squirrel (''Ratufa indica'') in Karlapat wildlife sanctuary, India |journal=Animal Biodiversity and Conservation |year=2017 |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=63–69 |doi=10.32800/abc.2017.40.0063 |url=http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC_40-1_pp_63-69.pdf |doi-access=free |access-date=11 September 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020024902/http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC_40-1_pp_63-69.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Ratufa indica maxima.jpg|thumb|left|''R. i. maxima'' in [[Kerala]]]]

The Indian giant squirrel is one of the largest squirrels, with a head–and–body length of {{cvt|25-50|cm|ftin|0}}, a tail that is about the same or somewhat longer, and a weight of {{cvt|1.5-2|kg|lb}}, although rarely up to {{cvt|3|kg|lb}}.<ref name=Walker1999>{{cite book| editor=Nowak, R.M.| year=1999 | title= Walker's Mammals of the World | volume=2 | edition= 6 | pages=1274–1275 | isbn=978-0-8018-5789-8 }}</ref><ref name=Abdulali1952>{{cite journal | author1=Abdulali, H. | author2=J.C. Daniel | year=1952 | title=Races of the Indian giant squirrel (''Ratufa indica'') | journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society | volume=50 | pages=469–474 }}</ref> Average for both sexes is about {{cvt|36|cm|ftin}} in head–and–body length, {{cvt|45|cm|ftin}} in tail length and {{cvt|1.7-1.8|kg|lb}} in weight.<ref name=Thorington2012/>

It has a conspicuous one-, two-, or three-toned colour scheme.<ref name=tritsch>{{Harvnb|Tritsch|2001|pp=132–133}}</ref> The colours involved can be whitish, [[cream (color)|creamy]]-[[beige]], [[buff (color)|buff]], [[tan (color)|tan]], [[rust (color)|rust]], reddish-[[maroon]], brown, dark [[seal brown]], or black.<ref name=Thorington2012/><ref name=prater24-25>{{Harvnb|Prater|1971|pp=24–25}}</ref> The underparts and the front legs are usually cream coloured, and the head can be brown or beige, and there is a distinctive white spot between the ears.<ref name=tritsch/> Otherwise the colours depend on the [[subspecies]].<ref name=Thorington2012/>

===Subspecies===
{{multiple image | direction = horizontal | image1 = Sciurus indicusJBNHS.jpg | image2 = Sciurus indicus malabaricus.jpg | width1 = 148 | width2 = 150 | footer = <br>
*''R. i. dealbatus'' (top left)
*''R. i. indica'' (below left)
*"''R. i. bengalensis''" (=''R. i. indica–maxima'' intergrade; top right)
*''R. i. maxima'' (below right)
}}

Ten subspecies have been described,<ref name=Abdulali1952/> but recent authorities generally recognise four:<ref name=Thorington2012/><ref name=Corbet1992>{{cite book |last1=Corbet |first1=Gordon Barclay |last2=Hill |first2=John Edwards |title=The mammals of the Indomalayan Region: a systematic review |year=1992 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0-19-854693-9|oclc=25281229}}</ref><ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />

*''R. i. indica'': Found in the northern and central Western Ghats from around [[Mumbai]] to [[Karnataka]]. Its upper parts and basal half of the tail are rich reddish-maroon or reddish-brown; the distal part of the tail is whitish or buff.<ref name=Thorington2012/><ref name=Abdulali1952/> On occasion there can be some black at the shoulder or at the very base of the tail (features typically associated with other subspecies).<ref name=Abdulali1952/> A few other subspecies have been described within its range based on variations in size, overall colour hue and width of the pale tail-tip,<ref name=Abdulali1952/> but recent authorities generally regard them as [[Synonym (biology)|synonyms]] of ''R. i. indica''.<ref name="Thorington" />
*''R. i. centralis'': From central and eastern India, notably in the Satpura Range and Eastern Ghats (all other subspecies are from the Western Ghats region). It is relatively small and further differs from ''R. i. indica'' by its black shoulder region, black tail except for the pale tip, and sometimes black rump.<ref name=Thorington2012/><ref name=Abdulali1952/>
*''R. i. dealbata'': Found in southern [[Gujarat]] (far northern Western Ghats region),<ref name=Abdulali1952/> but recent surveys have failed to locate it,<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> and it is possibly [[extinct]].<ref name=Thorington2012/> A highly distinctive pale subspecies that is overall creamy-buff with a whitish tail and brown ears.<ref name=Abdulali1952/> It should not be confused with true [[albino]]s, rarely recorded in the Indian giant squirrel, which are whiter and have pink eyes unlike ''R. i. dealbata''.<ref name=Abdulali1953>{{cite journal | author1=Abdulali, H. | author2=J.C. Daniel | year=1953 | title=A colour variation, and albinism in the giant squirrel Ratufa indica | journal=The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society | volume=51 | page=731 }}</ref>
*''R. i. maxima'': From southern Western Ghats. It resembles a large ''R. i. centralis'', but with more extensive black in the shoulder region and on the rump, and an almost entirely black tail (no pale tip). There is often a black dorsal stripe connecting the black shoulder region and rump. Another subspecies, ''R. i. bengalensis'', has been described from southern Karnataka and northern [[Kerala]], in between ''R. i. indica'' and ''R. i. maxima''. It generally resembles ''R. i. indica'', but the tail is black except for its pale tip and sometimes it has black shoulders, thus approaching ''R. i. maxima'' or ''R. i. centralis''.<ref name=Abdulali1952/> Its intermediate appearance and distribution has caused some questions about its validity; it could be regarded as an [[intergrade]] and recent authorities often treat it as a synonym of ''R. i. maxima''.<ref name=Corbet1992/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''''Ratufa indica''''' '''taxonomy'''<ref name="Thorington" />
|-
! Subspecies
! Authority
! Synonyms
|-
| ''R. i. indica''
| [[Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben|Erxleben]], 1777<ref name="Erxleben">{{cite book |last1=Erxleben|first1=Johann Christian Polykarp |title=Systema regni animalis per classes, ordines, genera, species, varietates cum synonymia et historia animalium. Classis I. Mammalia.|trans-title=Animal kingdom system by class, order, genus, species, varieties with synonyms and animals' history. Class I. Mammalia.|volume=42|year=1777|publisher=Impensis Weygandianis |location=Leipzig, Germany |language=la |oclc=14843832}}</ref>
| ''bombaya'', ''elphinstoni'', ''purpureus'', ''superans''
|-
| ''R. i. centralis''
| Ryley, 1913<ref name="Ryley">{{cite journal|last1=Ryley|first1=Kathleen V. |date=1913|title=Scientific results from the mammals survey |journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society|volume=22|pages=434–443|publisher=Bombay Natural History Society |location=Mumbai, India |issn=0006-6982|oclc=1536710}}</ref>
| none
|-
| ''R. i. dealbata''
| [[William Thomas Blanford|Blanford]], 1897
| none
|-
| ''R. i. maxima''
| [[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber|Schreber]], 1784<ref name="Schreber">{{cite book|last1=Schreber|first1=Johann Christian Daniel von |title=Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur, mit Beschreibungen |trans-title=The Mammals in illustrations after nature, with descriptions |volume=3|year=1792|orig-year=Chapter on The Squirrel first published in 1784|publisher=Wolfgang Walther |location=Erlangen |language=de |oclc=16860541|trans-chapter=The Squirrel |chapter=Der Springer}}</ref>
| ''bengalensis'', ''malabarica''
|}

==Behaviour==
[[File:Ratufa indica and jack fruit.JPG|thumb|Malabar giant squirrels feeding on a ripe [[jackfruit]] in [[Nagarhole National Park]], Karnataka]]
[[File:Malabar giant squirrel by N. A. Naseer.jpg|thumb|''R. iindica'' eating an apple]]

The Indian giant squirrel is an upper-canopy dwelling species, which rarely leaves the trees, and requires "tall profusely branched trees for the construction of nests."<ref name=datta_p394/> It travels from tree to tree with jumps of up to {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}. When in danger, the ''Ratufa indica'' often freezes or flattens itself against the tree trunk, instead of fleeing.<ref name=tritsch/> Its main predators are the [[birds of prey]] like owls<ref>Kannan, R. (1994). Forest Eagle Owl (Bubo nipalensis Hodgson)--a predator of the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 91: 454</ref> and the [[leopard]].<ref name=tritsch/> The Giant Squirrel is mostly active in the early hours of the morning and in the evening, resting in the midday. They are typically solitary animals that only come together for breeding. The species is believed to play a substantial role in shaping the ecosystem of its habitat by engaging in seed dispersal.<ref name=animaldiversity>{{cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ratufa_indica/ |title=Ratufa indica: Indian Giant Squirrel |last=Justice |first=James |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305001537/http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ratufa_indica/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Diet includes fruit, flowers, nuts and tree bark. Some subspecies are omnivorous, also eating insects and bird eggs.<ref name="Indian Giant Squirrel">{{cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/indian-giant-squirrel/ratufa-indica/video-08.html |title=Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) |publisher=Arkive |access-date=25 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113101000/http://www.arkive.org/indian-giant-squirrel/ratufa-indica/video-08.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Family life===
The Indian giant squirrel lives alone or in pairs. They build large globular nests of twigs and leaves, placing them on thinner branches where large predators can't get to them. These nests become conspicuous in deciduous forests during the dry season. 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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

===Reproduction===
Captive breeding of the [[Black giant squirrel|Malayan giant squirrel]], a close relative has indicated births in March, April, September and December. The young weigh 74.5{{nbsp}}[[gram|g]] at birth and have a length of 27.3 cm. In Canara, the Indian Giant Squirrel has been spotted with young in March.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/2825/indian_giant_squirrel.html|title=Indian Giant Squirrel|website=jungledragon.com|access-date=3 February 2022|archive-date=3 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203054519/https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/2825/indian_giant_squirrel.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Recognition==
The Indian giant squirrel (''shekaru'' in [[Marathi language|Marathi]]) is the [[state animal]] of the state of [[Maharashtra]] in western India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-indian-states-and-their-symbols-1482840512-1|title=List of Indian States and their Symbols|date=2017-08-14|website=www.jagranjosh.com|access-date=2019-10-17|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017192920/https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-indian-states-and-their-symbols-1482840512-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Indian giant flying squirrel]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{Citation
| last1=Datta
| first1=Aparajita
| last2=Goyal
| first2=S. P.
| title=Comparison of Forest Structure and Use by the Indian Giant Squirrel (''Ratufa indica'') in Two Riverine Forests of Central India
| journal=Biotropica
|volume=28
|issue=3
| year=1996
| pages=394–399
| jstor=2389203
| doi=10.2307/2389203
}}
*{{Citation
| last1=Prater
| first1=S. H.
| author-link=Stanley Henry Prater
| year=1971
| title=The book of Indian Animals
| publisher=Mumbai: Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press. Pp. xxiii, 324, 28 color plates by Paul Barruel.
| isbn=0-19-562169-7
}}
*{{Citation
| last1=Tritsch
| first1=Mark F.
| year=2001
| title=Wildlife of India
| publisher=London: Harper Collins Publishers. Pp. 192
| isbn=0-00-711062-6
}}

==Further reading==
*{{Citation
| last1=Blanford
| first1=W. T.
| title=The large Indian squirrel (''Sciurus indicus'' Erx.) and its local races and sub-species
| journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society
|volume=11
|issue=2
| year=1897
| pages=298–305
}}
*{{Citation
| last1=Borges
| first1=Renee M.
| author-link = Renee M. Borges
| title=Figs, Malabar Giant Squirrels, and Fruit Shortages Within Two Tropical Indian Forests
| journal=Biotropica
|volume=25
|issue=2
| year=1993
| pages=183–190
| jstor=2389182
| doi=10.2307/2389182
| s2cid=87414158
| url=http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/19bd/e89931cee405ad3f2d6b2e641f93d756774c.pdf
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228155232/http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/19bd/e89931cee405ad3f2d6b2e641f93d756774c.pdf
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=2019-12-28
}}
*{{Citation
| last1=Moore
| first1=Joseph Curtis
| title=Squirrel Geography of the Indian Subregion
| journal=Systematic Zoology
|volume=9
|issue=1
| year=1960
| pages=1–17
| jstor=2411536
| doi=10.2307/2411536
}}
*{{Citation
| last1=Somanathan
| first1=Hema
| last2=Mali
| first2=Subhash
| last3=Borges
| first3=Renee M.
| title=Arboreal larder-hoarding in tropical Indian giant squirrel ''Ratufa indica''
| journal=Écoscience
|volume=14
|issue=2
| year=2007
| pages=165–169
| doi=10.2980/1195-6860(2007)14[165:alitti]2.0.co;2
}}

*{{cite journal |last1=Koli |first1=Vijay Kumar |last2=Bhatnagar |first2=Chhaya |last3=Mali |first3=Dilip |title=Gliding behaviour of Indian giant flying squirrel ''Petaurista philippensis'' Elliot |journal=Current Science |date=2011 |volume=100 |issue=10 |pages=1563–1568 |jstor=24076679 }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Srinivas |first1=V. |last2=Venugopal |first2=P. Dilip |last3=Ram |first3=Sunita |title=Site occupancy of the Indian giant squirrel ''Ratufa indica'' (Erxleben) in Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India |journal=Current Science |date=2008 |volume=95 |issue=7 |pages=889–894 |jstor=24103186 }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Jathanna |first1=Devcharan |last2=Kumar |first2=N. Samba |last3=Karanth |first3=K. Ullas |title=Measuring Indian giant squirrel (''Ratufa indica'') abundance in southern India using distance sampling |journal=Current Science |date=2008 |volume=95 |issue=7 |pages=885–888 |jstor=24103185 |url=http://repository.ias.ac.in/89462/1/23P.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403150614/http://repository.ias.ac.in/89462/1/23P.pdf |archive-date=3 April 2019 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ratufa indica}}

{{S. Ratufinae-Sciurillinae nav}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2668978}}

[[Category:Ratufa]]
[[Category:Rodents of India]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of India]]
[[Category:Symbols of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1777]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben]]

Indian giant squirrel - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 23:46, 29 August 2023