Most Beautiful Of All Squirrels Found In India

image credit walk the wilderness 

The Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) is a large tree squirrel species native to India. This extremely beautiful squirrel has a huge bushy tail (about 60cm in length) which is usually longer than the head and body combined. It has a very conspicuous multiple toned color scheme. The upper-parts are dark (brown, black or dark red), the head and limbs are red-brown, and the underside creamy-beige. 

This squirrel, alert and wary of any unusual sight and sound, makes massive leaps of 6m (20ft) among branches as it goes from tree to tree searching for food such as fruit, nuts, bark, insects, and eggs. Its characteristic feeding pasture is not upright but leaning forwards or down, perched on its back legs with the tail as a counterbalance. Its short wide thumbs help it to manipulate food. 

The Indian Giant Squirrel lives alone or in pairs. It builds the typical squirrel type nest - large and globular with twigs and leaves - for resting and rearing young. Reproduction in this species is not certain but they are thought to breed throughout the year. Females usually produce 1-2 offspring in each litter after a gestation period of 28-35 days.