Indian Malabar Giant Squirrels Are Multi-Colored And Can Grow Up To 36 Inches Long

Nov 18, 2019

In India, you can find a type of squirrel that is so colorful and large that it looks like a mythical creature. The Malabar giant squirrel can grow to a length of three feet.

John Koprowski, associate director of the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, is also an expert on squirrels. Because of their large size, the professor thought they were monkeys at first glance when he visited India in 2006. 

The brilliant color patterns of the Malabar squirrels are striking to behold. They're nothing like the grey or brown squirrels typically seen elsewhere. The squirrels are colored in multiple tones of red, black, orange and even purple in some cases. The coats are both eye-catching and effective at protecting the squirrels.

The multiple colors that you might expect would catch attention are actually well adapted to providing camouflage in a dense forest environment. The colors really come to life when the squirrels come out of the dense foliage and into the sunlight.

These squirrels are actually rarely spotted because most of their lives are spent in high branches above the eastern and southern forests of India. Pizza Ka Yee Chow, an expert from Hokkaido University told The Dodo that this species of squirrel is rather shy, and one needs to climb high into a tree and remain very still in order to enable them to come into view. The squirrels will eventually emerge from their nests if you wait long enough.

The squirrels dine on vegetation such as tree bark, flowers, nuts, and fruit. There are also some varieties of the squirrels that feed on insects and bird eggs. Although these animals are rarely seen by humans, they're not on the endangered species list. The squirrels have managed to survive the growing prevalence of humans, and they seem to tolerate being near humans relatively well.

However, the squirrels are facing a possible threat from deforestation and climate change.

Do you think you would like to visit India to see these fascinating giant squirrels? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to pass this article along to your friends and family.