Did you know?
Sri Lankan giant squirrels are diurnal and live solitary or in pairs. This species is tree-dwelling (arboreal) in the true sense, moving through the treetops by taking large leaps and rarely coming down to the ground. They sleep in tree hollows and build nests in the form of a ball from branches and leaves for rearing their young. This species is in decline in the wild due to deforestation and is rarely kept in zoos.
Characteristics
Classification | Order: rodents; family: tree and ground squirrels |
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Diet | Predominantly fruits and nuts, sometimes also insects, nestlings and bird eggs |
Habitat | Forests in the South of India and Sri Lanka |
Reproduction | Gestation period: ca. 28 days; 1–2 young that remain in the nest and are weaned at around 8–10 weeks of age |
Status according to Red List
More information you will get on the web page of the IUCN Red List.
