The Indian palm squirrel or striped three bars ( Funambulus palmarum ) is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family found naturally in India (south from Vindhyas) and Sri Lanka. At the end of the 19th century, palm squirrels were introduced to Madagascar, RÃÆ'Â © union, Mayotte, Comoro Islands, Mauritius, Seychelles and Australia, where it has since become a minor pest. The closely-tied five-legged palm squirrel, F. pennantii , is found in northern India, and its reach partially overlaps with this species.
Video Indian palm squirrel
Description
Squirrel-size palm-sized palm, with a bushy tail slightly shorter than his body. The back is gray-brown with three striking white lines that stretch from head to tail. Both outer lines run from the front foot to the hind legs only. It has a creamy white stomach â € <â €
Maps Indian palm squirrel
Life cycle
The gestation period is 34 days; breeding occurs in the grass nest during the fall. Two or three litters are common, and averaging 2.75. The young were weaned after about 10 weeks and matured sexually at 9 months. Adult weight is 100 g. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lives 5.5 years in captivity.
Diet and behavior
These squirrels usually eat nuts and fruits. They are quite vocal, with shouts that sound like "chip chip chips" when danger is present. They are opportunistic in urban areas, and can be easily tamed and trained to receive food from humans. Actively naturally, their activity reaches madness during the breeding season. They tend to greatly protect their food sources, often keeping and keeping them from birds and other squirrels.
Unlike some other squirrel species, Indian coconut squirrels are not hibernate.
Importance in Hinduism
Squirrel is considered sacred in India and not harmed. They were even fed by many Hindu families, mainly because of their relationship with Lord Rama.
A legend explains the lines behind most squirrels. During the construction of Rama Setu (bridge) at Rameswaram by Lord Rama and Vanara Sena, a small squirrel also contributed in its own way. It rolled on the sand of the beach and then ran to the end of the bridge to release the sand from his back (Lord Rama's name so far).
Lord Rama, delighted with the dedication of the creature, caressed the squirrel's back and ever since, the Indian squirrels carry white stripes on his back, which are believed to be the sign of Lord Rama's fingers. Lord Rama and the squirrel are mentioned in one of Alvars' hymns.
Subspecies
Four commonly applicable subspecies are described according to geographical distribution. But more species are also described, but not given validity.
- Day subspecies
- Tree of bellaricus dancers Wroughton, 1916
- Palm Dancer (Linnaeus, 1766)
- The trees of brodiei dancers (Blyth, 1849)
- Robertsoni dancer trees Wroughton, 1916
- invalid species
- ? The dancers of bengalensls Wroughton, 1916
- ? Comorin dancer trees Wroughton, 1905
- ? Gossei dancer trees Wroughton and Davidson, 1919
- ? Dancers dancing trees (Layard, 1851)
- ? The trees of matugamensis dancers Lindsay, 1926
- ? Waldo dancers St Thomas and Wroughton, 1915
- ? The trees of penicillatus dancers (Leach, 1814)
- ? The trees of favonicus dancers St. Thomas and Wroughton, 1915
References
External Links
- Palmer Dancer on Wikipedia
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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