name: Indian giant squirrel or Malabar giant squirrel (latufa indica), affectionately known as the rainbow squirrel
living place: Forests and woodlands spread across central and southern India
What to eat: fruits, leaves, bark, seeds, and sometimes bird eggs and insects
Why it’s great: The Indian giant squirrel’s abdomen and arms are a cream-beige color, but the rest of its fur is a little more flamboyant with shades of orange, purple, and red, hence its nickname “rainbow squirrel.”
These colorful creatures can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) long. This is about twice the length of its American cousin. eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). because they are so big world’s largest squirrel species According to Guinness World Records.
Related: How do squirrels remember where they bury nuts?
Indian giant squirrels live only in forests. Make multiple round nestsKnown as drei, they live high up in trees. They use forks on branches to support the nest, weave the nest with climbing plant stems, and then stuff the nest with leaves to make it cozy.Unlike many other squirrels, the Indian giant squirrel store food in the tops of trees.
The seeds are generally lonelyjoins between the two to form a pair breeding season — from February to March and then from August to September — to coincide with the pre- and post-monsoon seasons.
But why is the Indian flying squirrel so colorful? Scientists aren’t sure, but its colorful fur may help it camouflage itself in its forest home. A study published in 2021 reported that the Indian ground squirrel sitting perfectly still among leafy branches About 30 minutes while the snake eagle hovered above. “They are calm and quiet,” the authors wrote, adding that they spread their legs and grip branches to avoid detection.
