Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Black giant squirrel

Ratufa bicolor

Anders Sparrman, 1778

The black giant squirrel or Malayan giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) is a large tree squirrel in the genus Ratufa native to the Indomalayan zootope. It is found in forests from northern Bangladesh, northeast India, eastern Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and western Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Bali and nearby small islands). The black giant squirrel is also available in Tirumala hills, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Description

The black giant squirrel is one of the largest species of squirrel in the world. On average, an adult black giant squirrel weighs around 1.05-1.25 kg, has a head–and–body length of 34-37 cm, and the tail is 41-42 cm long. The subspecies R. b. condorensis of Vietnam's Côn Sơn Island averages only 30 cm in head–and–body length and the tail 32 cm, but otherwise it resembles the typical subspecies.

This species is typically distinctly bicoloured with dark upperparts and pale underparts. The back, top of the head, ears and bushy tail are deep brown to black and the underparts are light buff-coloured. In Sumatra, Java and Bali the hairs of the back and tail are light-tipped, making these sections appear relatively pale (however, the back is still distinctly darker than the underparts). On small islands off Myanmar and in the Strait of Malacca the black giant squirrel has reddish-yellowish underparts.

Habitat

Ratufa bicolor's range includes a variety of bioregions that all share the commonality of being forested. It ranges in elevation from sea level up to at least 1400 m, in some of the most rugged land in the world. However, in recent decades, R. bicolor's habitat has been steadily encroached upon by human settlement, timber harvesting and agriculture, which along with overhunting by human predation in parts of its range, has resulted in a total loss of up to 30% of the population in the past ten years. However, in some places this species is protected from hunting by law or tradition.

In South Asia R. bicolor dwells among tropical and subtropical coniferous and broadleaf forests.

In Southeast Asia R. bicolor lives in tropical broadleaf evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, but is rarely seen in coniferous forests.

In the tropical rainforest of the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, R. bicolor is not as abundant as elsewhere in its range, which is probably due to competition from other arboreal species (especially primates) for food in the upper forest canopy.

Among the better places to sight the black giant squirrel is the Kaziranga National Park in the state of Assam, India.

Behavior

R. bicolor is diurnal and arboreal, but sometimes climbs down from the forest canopy to feed on the ground. The black giant squirrel rarely enters plantations or settlements, preferring the wild forest.

Its diet consists of seeds, pine cones, fruits, and leaves. It is primarily solitary, and has a litter of from 1 to 2 young, which it raises in a drey (or nest), often located within a hollow space of a tree.

,

Taxonomy

Further study is required to determine whether Ratufa bicolor actually represents several similar species.

The table below lists the ten recognized subspecies of Ratufa bicolor, along with any synonyms associated with each subspecies:

Ratufa bicolor taxonomy
Subspecies Authority Synonyms
R. b. bicolor Sparrman (1778) albiceps, baliensis, humeralis, javensis, leschnaultii, major, sondaica
R. b. condorensis Kloss (1920) none
R. b. felli Thomas and Wroughton (1916) none
R. b. gigantea McClelland (1839) lutrina, macruroides
R. b. hainana J. A. Allen (1906) stigmosa
R. b. leucogenys Kloss (1916) sinus
R. b. melanopepla Miller (1900) anambae, angusticeps, dicolorata, fretensis, penangensis, peninsulae, tiomanensis
R. b. palliata Miller (1902) batuana, laenata
R. b. phaeopepla Miller (1913) celaenopepla, marana
R. b. smithi Robinson and Kloss (1922) none

This article uses material from Wikipedia released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike Licence 3.0. Eventual photos shown in this page may or may not be from Wikipedia, please see the license details for photos in photo by-lines.

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Sciuridae
Genus
Ratufa
Species
Ratufa bicolor

Common names

  • English:
    • Black giant squirrel
    • Malayan giant squirrel
  • French: Écureuil géant de Malaisie

Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Photos

Please help us review our species pages if wrong photos are used or any other details in the page is wrong. We can be reached via our contact us page.

Black giant squirrel
Ratufa bicolor
Black giant squirrel
Black giant squirrel
Black giant squirrel

Range Map

Distribution map of Black giant squirrel, Ratufa bicolor in Thailand
  • Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Doi Suthep - Pui National Park
  • Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kaeng Krachan National Park
  • Khao Luang National Park
  • Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Sok National Park
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Mae Wong National Park
  • Nam Nao National Park
  • Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Phu Kradueng National Park
  • Sai Yok National Park
  • Sri Phang-nga National Park
  • Tarutao National Marine Park
  • Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
Range map of Ratufa bicolor in Thailand