https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Indian_palm_squirrelIndian palm squirrel - Revision history2026-07-31T01:28:02ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Indian_palm_squirrel&diff=550450&oldid=prevSimba at 07:13, 3 June 20262026-06-03T07:13:21Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Species of rodent}}{{More citations needed|date=May 2023}}{{Speciesbox<br />
| name = Indian palm squirrel<br />
| image = Funambulus palmarum (Bengaluru).jpg<br />
| image2 = Three Striped Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum).wav<br />
| image2_caption = Image from [[Bangalore]] and recording from [[Tirupati]], India<br />
| status = LC<br />
| status_system = IUCN3.1<br />
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Nameer, P.O. |author2=Molur, S. |year=2016 |errata=2017 |title=''Funambulus palmarum'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T8701A115087934 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T8701A22259902.en |access-date=21 June 2025}}</ref><br />
| genus = Funambulus<br />
| species = palmarum<br />
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[12th edition of Systema Naturae|1766]]) <br />
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies<br />
| 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=Family Sciuridae|chapter-url=https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=12400001|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}}</ref><br />
| subdivision = <br />
* ''F. p. palmarum''<br />
* ''F. p. brodiei''<br />
* ''F. p. robertsoni''<br />
* ''F. p. bellaricus''<br />
| synonyms = ''Sciurus brodei'' {{small|Blyth,&nbsp;1849}} <br /><br />
''Sciurus indicus'' {{small|Lesson,&nbsp;1835}} <br /><br />
''Sciurus kelaarti'' {{small|Layard,&nbsp;1851}} <br /><br />
''Sciurus palmarum'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1766}} <br /><br />
''Sciurus pencillatus'' {{small|Leach,&nbsp;1814}} <br />
}}<br />
<br />
The '''Indian palm squirrel''' or '''three-striped palm squirrel''' ('''''Funambulus palmarum''''') is a species of [[rodent]] in the family [[Sciuridae]] found naturally in [[India]] (south of the [[Vindhyas]]), [[Bangladesh]], and [[Sri Lanka]]. In the late 19th century, the palm squirrel was introduced to [[Madagascar]], [[Réunion]], [[Mayotte]], [[Comoro Islands]], [[Mauritius]], and [[Seychelles]]. The closely related [[Northern palm squirrel|five-striped palm squirrel]] (''F. pennantii'') is found in northern India, and its range partly overlaps with this species.<br />
[[File:Three_Striped_Palm_Squirrel_Habitat_Map.png|thumb|Native range of the Three Striped Palm Squirrel]]<br />
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==Description==<br />
{{unsourced section|date=October 2024}}<br />
[[File:Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum).jpg|thumb|upright|left|In Bangalore, India]]<br />
The palm squirrel is about the size of a large [[chipmunk]], with a bushy tail slightly shorter than its body. The back is a grizzled, grey-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 hair. 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<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nameer |first1=P.O. |last2=Molur |first2=S. |year=2008 |title=Funambulus palmarum |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8704/13156029 |journal=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature |access-date=24 January 2026}}</ref>.<br />
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==Life cycle==<br />
The Indian palm squirrel exhibits a variety of reproductive behaviors; some display cyclical periodicity activity while others show continuous reproductive activity.<ref>{{cite journal|author=REDDI, A. H.|author2= PRASAD, M. R. N. |year=1968|title= The Reproductive Cycle of the Male Indian Palm Squirrel, Funambulus Pennanti Wroughton|journal=Reproduction|volume= 17|issue=2|pages= 235–245|doi= 10.1530/jrf.0.0170235 |pmid= 5723780 }}</ref> The [[gestation]] period is 34 days; breeding 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. The adult weight is 100 grams. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lived 5.5 years in captivity.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Human Ageing Genomic Resources|work= AnAge database|access-date=30 July 2007 |url=http://www.genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Funambulus_palmarum |title=AnAge entry for ''Funambulus palmarum''}}</ref><br />
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==Diet and behaviour==<br />
{{unsourced section|date=October 2024}}<br />
[[File: Baby Squirrels.png|thumb|A pair of baby three-striped Indian palm squirrels, a week after they were rescued after they fell from a coconut tree]]The Indian palm squirrel is a solitary animal, spending a majority of its life without interaction with others their own species, with the exception of mating and child rearing. While nuts and fruits make up a majority of its diet, the Indian palm squirrel will also eat insects, other smaller mammals, and reptiles. 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 tamed 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.[[File:Mother's love.jpg|thumbnail|An Indian palm squirrel with its pup]]Unlike some other species of squirrel, the Indian palm squirrel does not hibernate.<br />
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==Importance in Hinduism==<br />
Squirrels are considered sacred by [[Hindus]] and are not to be harmed. They are even fed by many Hindu families because of their association with [[Rama]].[[Image:Three-Striped Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) nest in Hyderabad W IMG 4466.jpg|thumb|right|An Indian palm squirrel nest]]<br />
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A legend explains the stripes on the back of most of the squirrels. During the construction of the [[Rama Setu]] (bridge) at [[Rameswaram]] by Sri Rama and the Vanara Sena or monkey army, a little squirrel also contributed in its own little way. It rolled in the beach sand and then ran to the end of the bridge to shake off the sand from its back. [[Rama|Sri Rama]], pleased by the creature's dedication, caressed the squirrel's back and ever since, the Indian squirrel carried white stripes on its back, which are believed to be the mark of Rama's fingers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ecoheritage.cpreec.org/Viewcontall.php?$mFJyBfK$MkoNJ@juGn2 |title=::: Envis ::: |access-date=2013-03-04 |archive-date=2017-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810053212/http://www.ecoheritage.cpreec.org/Viewcontall.php?$mFJyBfK$MkoNJ@juGn2 }}</ref> Sri Rama and the squirrel are mentioned in one of the hymns of the [[Alvars]].<br />
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==Subspecies==<br />
Generally four valid subspecies are described according to the geographic distribution. But many more subspecies are also described, but not given validity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planet-mammiferes.org/drupal/en/node/35?class=&where_classif=10&1_=1&2_=2&3_=4&4_=21&5_=30&6_=125&7_=225&8_=1003&9_=&10_=&11_=&go=& |title=Classification of Mammals: Taxonomy table {{!}} Mammals'Planet |website=www.planet-mammiferes.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210111811/http://www.planet-mammiferes.org/drupal/en/node/35?class=&where_classif=10&1_=1&2_=2&3_=4&4_=21&5_=30&6_=125&7_=225&8_=1003&9_=&10_=&11_=&go=& |archive-date=2015-02-10}}</ref><br />
<br />
* Valid subspecies<br />
** ''Funambulus palmarum bellaricus'' (Wroughton, 1916)<br />
** ''Funambulus palmarum palmarum'' (Linnaeus, 1766)<br />
** ''Funambulus palmarum brodiei'' (Blyth, 1849)<br />
** ''Funambulus palmarum robertsoni'' (Wroughton, 1916)<br />
* Invalid subspecies<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum bengalensis'' (Wroughton, 1916)<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum comorinus'' (Wroughton, 1905)<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum gossei'' (Wroughton and Davidson, 1919)<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum kelaarti'' (Layard, 1851)<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum matugamensis'' (Lindsay, 1926)<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum olympius'' (Thomas and Wroughton, 1915)<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum penicillatus'' (Leach, 1814)<br />
**''Funambulus palmarum favonicus'' (Thomas and Wroughton, 1915)<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[[Species:Funambulus palmarum|''Funambulus palmarum'']] on [[Wikispecies]]<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:squirrel, palm, Indian}}<br />
[[Category:Funambulus|Indian palm squirrel]]<br />
[[Category:Rodents of India]]<br />
[[Category:Mammals described in 1766|Indian palm squirrel]]<br />
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]<br />
[[Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]</div>Simba