Squirrels of the World

Ratufa macroura 29

habitat: This species favors the evergreen broadleaf for-
ests of southern India and Sri Lanka.

natural history: On the eastern side of the Western
Ghats (in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka), the Sri Lankan
giant squirrel lives in riparian forests dominated by Termi-

nalia, Tamarindus, Mangifera, Pongamia, Albizia, and Syzygium.

It feeds on the young leaves of Tamarindus, and on the young

leaves, pollen, and bark of Albizia.

general references: Karthikeyan et al.1992; Ramachan-

dran 1989.

Ratufa macroura. Photo courtesy James Eaton / Birdtour Asia.