Squirrels of the World

162 Funambulus palmarum

Funambulus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1766)

Indian Palm Squirrel

description: This is the common three-striped squirrel of
southern India. The mid-dorsal stripe is pale buff y, as is the
ventral pelage. There is a red midventral line on the tail.

size: Female—HB 146.6 mm (n = 79); T 157.7 mm (n = 24);
Mass 99.2 g (n = 2).
Male—HB 149.3 mm (n = 81); T 147.7 mm (n = 30); Mass
117.5 g (n = 57).
Sex not stated—HB 146.1 mm (n = 1).

distribution: This species is found in India and in Sri
Lanka. It has a limited area of geographic overlap with F.
pennantii in the Central Provinces and along the west coast
of India.

geographic variation: Three subspecies are recognized.

F. p. palmarum—western and southern India, to approximately
16° N latitude. This form is gray to brown on the dorsum,
being more gray in the north and darker in the south.
F. p. brodiei—Sri Lanka. This is brightest-colored form, dis-
tinguished by lateral stripes that are more orange; it is
darker in the Sri Lankan highlands.
F. p. robertsoni—eastern India, between 20° N latitude and
24° N latitude. This form is smaller than the other sub-

species; it also diff ers from the more western animals,

which are grayer on the head. This subspecies lacks any

brown coloration.

conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population

trend—increasing.

habitat: This is more of a hill forest species than F. pen-

nantii, and it inhabits deciduous rainforests, ascending to

Funambulus layardi. Photo courtesy Rajith Dissanayake.

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