Prevost's squirrels are native to southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, and nearby smaller islands. They inhabit mostly the canopy of lowland forests, and also venture into gardens and other cultivated areas. They are relatively large tree squirrels, with the body about 11 inches long and the tail about 8-9 inches, and weighing about two pounds. They are diurnal and for the most part solitary except when the female is raising young.
The diet is varied and omnivorous. Prevost's squirrels eat nuts, fruits, seeds, buds, flowers, insects including ants and terminates, beetle larvae, small reptiles, and sometimes birds' eggs. They carry fruit far from the tree in which it was found before eating it and dropping the seeds, which helps to encourage the growth of a new generation of fruit trees in the forest.
Because they live in an environment where there is no real winter season, breeding for the Prevost's squirrel can occur throughout the year, and a female may have up to three litters in a year. The litter usually consists of 1-4 babies, which are able to leave the nest by about 6 weeks old.
When alarmed or excited, the Prevost's squirrel can produce a trill and a piercing whistle to warn other squirrels in the area of any danger. Like other tree squirrels, it also uses its tail like a flag to communicate. It is extremely agile when moving about in the tree canopies, and jumps exceptionally long distances.
The people of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are lucky to have such a beautiful, strikingly colored squirrel where they live!
Quite beautiful coloring. Interesting how the ears do not protrude.
ReplyDeletethis article helped me a lot since I had to do a report on this squirrel. I just wish it would talk about the friends and enemies of the squirrel.
ReplyDeleteIt is an amazing animal from it coloration to its diet which means it isn't a picky eater which also it has more likely chance of survival all in all there a unique animal
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and informative. So happy to be doing this animal for my research project!!!!
ReplyDeleteI really liked this artical since am about to buy this cute one. And i had no clue on his name, where does it come from and his diet .. ThankYou
ReplyDeleteHello! Where are you buying your Prevost's Squirrel?
DeleteI really liked this artical since am about to buy this cute one. And i had no clue on his name, where does it come from and his diet .. ThankYou
ReplyDelete