Kingdom Animalia Class Mammalia Family Sciuridae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Rodentia Genus Funambulus | |
Similar Dusky palm squirrel, Layard's palm squirrel, Jungle palm squirrel, Funambulus, Himalayan striped squirrel | ||
The dusky palm squirrel (Funambulus obscurus) is the Sri Lankan form (formerly subspecies F. s. obscurus) of squirrels collectively known as dusky-palm squirrels. It is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. Known as පුංචි ලේනා (punchi lena) or "batu lena" in the Sinhala language.
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Taxonomy
The species known in the past has recently been split into two species. The Indian form (formerly subspecies F. s. sublineatus) is now referred to as the Nilgiri palm squirrel, whereas the Sri Lankan form (formerly F. s. obscurus) may now be referred to as the dusky palm squirrel.
Description
The dusky palm squirrel is better documented as by W.W.A. Phillips in the Manual of the Mammals of Sri Lanka. It is much larger than the Indian species (F. sublineatus), with longer, thicker stripes. Its head and body length is 11–13 cm, with a 10-cm tail. Its upperparts are dark brown to black in color with three off-white dorsal stripes; its underparts are yellowish with a green tinge. The tail is bushy, short with a black tip. Fur is soft, dense and short. Parts withour fur are grayish. The characteristic features that can distinguish this squirrel from other squirrels is dark color coat, indistinct stripes, and bird-like voice.
Distribution
Only found in Sri Lanka, this squirrel can be seen in wet zone low elevations to highlands with dense forest cover. Sinharaja rain forest, Horton Plains, and districts like Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura and parts of Kandy are home to this squirrel.
Ecology
Diurnal and highly forest dweller, this species is sometimes found close to human dwellings at the edge of forests. Plants like Bamboo and Strobilanthes are the best sites for their presence. They are well known to home in bamboo trees. It is a highly watchful species, where just a snap of sound will lead to hide within the dense cover. But they can tame and can observe without any noise in the field.
Diet
Known to eat herbivore diet such as shoots, seeds and fruits though omnivory is highly probable - as there has been little research, an invertebrate diet needs confirmation. They are fond or rice and fruit thrown at food dumps in Buddhist monasteries and similar places close to suitable forest.
Communication
They have a bird-like voice, which can mistakenly thought to be a bird while only listen the sound. Voice is a trill with high pitches. There are alarm calls and mating calls as other squirrels. When a predator is seen, is perches out of harm's way sitting on its haunches at a safe distance, and send alarming call with a flick of tail accomapanying each call, just as well known Funambulus palmarum does.