What is the Indian palm squirrel also known as?

The Indian palm squirrel or three-striped palm squirrel ("Funambulus palmarum") is a species of rodent in the family "Sciuridae" found naturally in India (south of the Vindhya mountains) and Sri Lanka. In the late 19th century, the palm squirrel was introduced to Madagascar, Réunion, Mayotte, Comoro Islands, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Australia. The closely related five-striped palm squirrel, "F. pennantii", is found in northern India, and its range partly overlaps with this species.

This squirrel is about the size of a large chipmunk, with a bushy tail slightly shorter than its body. The back is a grizzled, grey-brown colour with three conspicuous white stripes which run from head to tail. The two outer stripes run from the forelegs to the hind legs only. It has a creamy-white belly and a tail covered with interspersed, long, black and white hair. The ears are small and triangular.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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Julie Allen

The northern palm squirrel (Funambulus pennantii), also known as the five-striped palm squirrel, is native to northern India where it lives around houses and causes damage to fruit and vegetable crops. The northern palm squirrel is introduced to Australia, and is established in Perth, Western Australia (WA). Until 1976 it was also established in Sydney, New South Wales in the locality of Taronga Zoo and a small population was established in Kew Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria.