Indian palm squirrel

A palm squirrel looking something.

Indian palm squirrel is eating something.

The Indian Palm Squirrel is about 20 cm long and weighs about 100 grams. these little squirrels only naturally occur in India and Sri Lanka. They were introduced to Australia and have become a minor nuisance since they don’t have any natural predators to keep them in check.
the Indian Palm Squirrel feeds mostly on fruits and nuts.  Although they will also supplement their diet with yummy tasting insects. Some squirrels are smart and tend to hibernate in the winter but this particular squirrel is not one of them. they won’t leave the nice warm, comfy nest until the afternoon sun is shining. 

A squirrel is eating papaya.  

The gestation period is 34 days; breeding takes place in grass nests during the autumn. Litters of two or three are common, and average 2.75. The young are weaned after about 10 weeks and are sexually mature at 9 months. Adult weight is 100 g. Little is known about their longevity, but one specimen lived 5.5 years in captivity.

Mata Seeta giving fruits to a squirrel.

An old Hindu legend explains how the Indian Palm Squirrel received the 3 stripes across its back.  Basically, this squirrel helped Lord Rama and Vanara Sena build a bridge. The squirrel would roll in the sand and then run over to the bridge site and shake all the sand off.  Lord Rama was very impressed with the dedication of the Indian Palm Squirrel and left 3 stripes across his back as he petted him. It is important to note that this association with Lord Rama could be part of the reason that squirrels are considered sacred in India.  Can any readers validate this legend?

many squirrels in under tree.

  Subspecies       
                               F. p. palmarum      
                               F. p. brodiei          
                               F. p. robertsoni

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Funambulus
Subgenus:	Funambulus
Species:	F. palmarum  source Wikipedia

nice.....source  Wikipedia

A Indian palm squirrel Tree plunge