Mammals · Rodentia · Sciuridae

Indian Giant Squirrel

Ratufa indica

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Indian giant squirrel, or Malabar giant squirrel, is one of the largest and most striking squirrels in the world, with a coat combining chestnut, cream, maroon and purple depending on the subspecies. It lives exclusively in the high canopy of the forests of peninsular India and virtually never comes down to the ground: it moves by leaping between branches and can cover six metres in a single jump. It builds several spherical nests of twigs and leaves within its territory and uses them in rotation.

Weight

1.5 kg – 2 kg

Size

35 cm – 50 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestTemperate forestOmnivore Diurnal Solitary Rainforest Temperate forest Mammal

7countries 6parks22same family

Fun facts

It leaps as much as six metres between trees, stretching out in mid-air and using its tail as a rudder: if it misses its grip it can fall more than ten metres and run off unhurt.
It builds several nests within the same territory and rotates between them, some for sleeping and others for breeding, which makes it harder for a predator to learn where to find it.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: The high canopy of evergreen and deciduous moist forest in peninsular India
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 2.8 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratufa_indica