Ratufa bicolor Sparrman, 1778 - Malayan Giant Squirrel

Subspecies in India

It is also known as Black Giant Squirrel.
 
There is some taxonomic ambiguty over subspecies recognition for this species. There are currently 10 subspecies recognized namely R. b. bicolor (previously recognized subspecies albiceps, baliensis, humeralis, javensis, leschnaultii, major, and sondaica are now synonymized with bicolor), R. b. condorensis, R. b. felli, R. b. gigantea (previously known subspecies lutrina and macruroides are now synonymized with gigantea), R. b. hainana (subspecies stigmosa is now synonymized with hainana), R. b. leucogenys (subspecies sinus is now synonymized with leucogenys), R. b. melanopelpa (earlier subspecies anambae, angusticeps, dicolorata, fretensis, penangensis, peninsulae, and tiomanensis are now synonymized with melanopelpa), R. b. palliata (batuana and laenata are now synonymized with palliata), R. b. phaeopelpa (celaenopelpa and marana are now synonymized with phaeopelpa), and R. b. smithi.

This species is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).

 

Photo Gallery and Species Biology

Ratufa bicolor - Malayan Giant Squirrel



This species has wide range through out southeast Asia. In India, it can be seen in some states of NE Indian states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur. It inhabits, tropical and subtropical coniferous forests and broadleaf forest. It is arboreal but may sometimes be found on ground. It is diurnal species, mostly found solitary. Its diet include fruits, leaves and branches. It makes nests (drey) high in the trees by collecting leaves and other plant material. 

Conservation Status:

This species is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).


According to IUCN Red List assessment, population of this species is decreasing all over its range. There are no estimates of its population. Rate of decline is also not known. The threats to its survival mainly come from habitat loss and fragmentation owing to anthropogenic activities like logging, agriculture, residential and commercial activities. Hunting, trapping and poaching is another threat that has caused loss its population.

StateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNo date
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh31
Assam31211
Bihar
Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Daman & Diu
Delhi
Goa
Gujarat
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Kerala
Lakshadweep
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Odisha
Paschimbanga1
Pondicherry
Punjab
Rajasthan
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal1
Total313421

Page citation

Anonymous 2024. Ratufa bicolor Sparrman, 1778 – Malayan Giant Squirrel. In Bayani, A., R. Chakravarty, and K. Kunte (Editors) (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 1.13. Published by the Indian Foundation for Butterflies. URL: https://www.mammalsofindia.org/ratufa-bicolor, accessed 2024/05/12.