Phylum Chordata
> Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Mammalia |
Plantain
squirrel
Callosciurus notatus
Family Sciuridae
updated
Oct 2016
Where
seen? This energetic and sometimes noisy squirrel is sometimes
seen in trees near our shores. It is common in our forests, parks
and even urban areas. It is active during the day and found in trees,
only seldom coming down to the ground.
Features: Head and body to 22cm, tail to 21cm. Body and tail olive-brown,
underside of the belly reddish brown, with a black and white stripe
on the sides of the body and whitish around the eyes.
This mammal lives like a bird. It lives in trees and effortlessly
'flies' from branch to branch in death-defying leaps. Its chirpping
calls are often mistaken for bird calls. It even creates a spherical
nest of twigs and leaves to raise its young.
What does it eat? It eats fruits,
seeds, leaves, bark and insects, foraging in the trees. |
Lower Peirce Trail, Jan 04 |
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Dec 10
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Sentosa, Sep 18
Photo shared by Malcolm Lord
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Plantain
squirrels on Singapore shores |
Links
References
- Tan Heok Hui. 2 October 2013. Plantain squirrel gathering mangrove algae. Singapore Biodiversity Records 2013: 11
- Baker, Nick
and Kelvin Lim. 2008. Wild
Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles,
Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes
Vertebrate Study Group, Nature Society (Singapore). 180 pp.
- Francis,
Charles M. 2001. Mammals
of South-East Asia
New Holland Publishers. 128 pp.
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