Indian palm squirrel

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) and Sri Lanka. In the late 19th century, the palm squirrel was introduced to Madagascar, Réunion, Mayotte, Comoro Islands, Mauritius, Seychelles and Australia, where it has since become a minor pest.[3][4] The closely related five-striped palm squirrel, F. pennantii, is found in northern India, and its range partly overlaps with this species.

Indian palm squirrel
Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Funambulus
Species:
F. palmarum
Binomial name
Funambulus palmarum
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Subspecies[2]
  • F. p. palmarum
  • F. p. brodiei
  • F. p. robertsoni
  • F. p. bellaricus
Synonyms

Sciurus brodei Blyth, 1849
Sciurus indicus Lesson, 1835
Sciurus kelaarti Layard, 1851
Sciurus palmarum Linnaeus, 1766
Sciurus pencillatus Leach, 1814

Description
Indian palm squirrel, Bangalore, India
Indian palm squirrel
An Indian palm squirrel with its pup

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.

Life cycle
An Indian palm squirrel nest

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. Adult weight is 100 g. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lived 5.5 years in captivity.[5]

A pair of baby three striped Indian palm squirrels, a week after they were rescued. The squirrels had fallen from a coconut tree.

Diet and behaviour

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 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.

Unlike some other species of squirrel, the Indian palm squirrel does not hibernate.

Importance in Hinduism

Squirrels are considered sacred by Hindus and are not to be harmed. They are even fed by many Hindu families, mainly because of their association with Lord Rama.

A legend explains the stripes on the back of most of the squirrels. During the construction of the Rama Setu (bridge) at Rameswaram by Lord Rama and the Vanara Sena, 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. Lord 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 Lord Rama's fingers.[6] Lord Rama and the squirrel are mentioned in one of the hymns of the Alvars.

Subspecies

Generally four valid subspecies are described according to the geographic distribution. But many more subspecies are also described, but not given validity.[7]

  • Valid subspecies
    • Funambulus palmarum bellaricus (Wroughton, 1916)
    • Funambulus palmarum palmarum (Linnaeus, 1766)
    • Funambulus palmarum brodiei (Blyth, 1849)
    • Funambulus palmarum robertsoni (Wroughton, 1916)
  • Invalid subspecies
    • ? Funambulus palmarum bengalensis (Wroughton, 1916)
    • ? Funambulus palmarum comorinus (Wroughton, 1905)
    • ? Funambulus palmarum gossei (Wroughton and Davidson, 1919)
    • ? Funambulus palmarum kelaarti (Layard, 1851)
    • ? Funambulus palmarum matugamensis (Lindsay, 1926)
    • ? Funambulus palmarum olympius (Thomas and Wroughton, 1915)
    • ? Funambulus palmarum penicillatus (Leach, 1814)
    • ? Funambulus palmarum favonicus (Thomas and Wroughton, 1915)
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References
  1. Nameer, P. O. & Molur, S. (2008). "Funambulus palmarum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Thorington, R.W., Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). 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.
  3. Long, J. L. (2003). Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence. Csiro Publishing, Collingwood, Australia. ISBN 9780643099166
  4. Farmnote 113/2000, Government of Western Australia Department and Agriculture and Food, retrieved 8/14/2008 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2008-08-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, AnAge database, retrieved 7/30/2007 AnAge entry for Funambulus palmarum
  6. http://www.ecoheritage.cpreec.org/Viewcontall.php?$mFJyBfK$MkoNJ@juGn2
  7. 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=&
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