Prevost's Squirrel

About the Prevost's Squirrel

Prevost's squirrel or Asian tri-coloured squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) is a colourful species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in forests in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and nearby smaller islands, with an introduced population in northern Sulawesi. Although the Prevost's squirrel is declining in some regions because of habitat loss and hunting, the species is not considered threatened since it generally remains common and widespread. It can live in somewhat disturbed habitats and often visits plantations or gardens. It mostly feeds on plant material, especially fruits, but also takes insects.

The Prevost's squirrel is a medium-sized squirrel, but one of the larger species in its range, although clearly surpassed by the giant squirrels and giant flying squirrels of the region. The head-and-body of the Prevost's squirrel typically is 20–27 cm (8–11 in) long and the tail length is about the same; it weighs 250–500 g (9–18 oz). Individuals from small islands tend to be smaller in size than those from medium-small islands, but on large islands this pattern is reversed.

In general, the subspecies of the Prevost's squirrel have... Wikipedia →