26 Ratufa bicolorthe western sides of Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia
are darker black on the back and darker reddish yellow
on the belly, in contrast with the mainland forms.
R. b. palliata—Sumatra (Indonesia). It is similar to R. b. bi-
color, but the tail hairs are only pale-tipped, and the head
and shoulders are darker than the back.
R. b. phaeopepla—Myanmar and Thailand south through
peninsular Malaysia and the Natuna Islands (Indonesia).
It is virtually indistinguishable from R. b. angusticeps, R.
b. leucogenys, and R. b. melanopepla. It lacks ear tufts, and
it exhibits a fl ash pattern on the forearm. Island forms on
the western sides of Myanmar, Thailand and peninsular
Malaysia are darker black on the back and darker reddish
yel low on t he bel ly, i n cont ra st w it h t he ma i n la nd forms.
R. b. smithi—western Vietnam. It has ear tufts, a fl ash pat-
tern on the forearm, and frosted dorsal pelage.
conservation: IUCN status—near threatened. Population
trend—decreasing.habitat: This species prefers the evergreen and semi-ever-
green broadleaf forests of Indochina and the Sunda Shelf.natural history: During a study in Kuala Lompat (Ma-
laysia), Ratufa bicolor lived in the middle and upper canopy,
seldom below 20 m. Based on feeding time, the squirrels fed
extensively on seeds (61%) and pulp (20%), with fi gs account-
ing for half of the pulp. The rest of their diet included fl ow-
ers, leaves, and sap/bark, but no insects. They did not store
food. The median rate of travel for animals when foraging
and feeding was 30 m/hour, ranging from a median 65 m/
hour in the morning to 10 m/hour at midday and 50 m/hour
at the end of the day. The estimated median for total dis-
tance traveled was 315 m/day. The population density of the
squirrels was 11 individuals/100 ha. Nests (dreys) were con-
structed with long leafy twigs, more than 31 m above the
ground in the canopy, commonly in the outer branches of
Koompassia or Shorea trees. These squirrels usually exited
their nests in the morning, between 6 and 8 a.m., but after
rainy nights they might exit as late as 10 a.m. They were
most active between dawn and 10 a.m., with a lesser peak of
activity between 2 and 4 p.m. The median time at which
they reentered their nests was 6:01 p.m. When attacked by a
Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela), a squirrel ran about
in the tree calling loudly, with its hair piloerected, as if to
intimidate the bird. Breeding follows a mating chase, appar-
ently involving one male and the estrous female. Litter size
averages 1.44, and females may have two litters per year. On
peninsular Malaysia, pregnant Ratufa were found between
April and September, suggesting that parturition occurs at
the beginning or during the peak of the fruiting season.general references: Moore and Tate 1965; J. B. Payne
1980.Ratufa indica (Erxleben, 1777)
Indian Giant Squirreldescription: This dramatic giant squirrel has large red or
maroon ear tufts that are approximately 20 mm long, with
the back and tail predominantly maroon and black.size: Female—HB 365.4 mm (n = 45); T 462.7 mm (n = 45);
Mass 1807.5 g (n = 8).
Male—HB 362.2 mm (n = 51); T 447.3 mm (n = 50); Mass
1678.3 g (n = 15).Ratufa bicolor. Photo courtesy Pitchaya and Rattapon Kaichid.