A short note on the Indian Palm Squirrel

It was a Saturday morning, no one else know the importance of a Saturday morning sleep more than a software professional, there was a loud and prolonged "Chip Chip Chip Chip" call from the back yard garden as if a bird was calling for help..Got out of bed and peeped out to see a pair of squirrels screaming as if they were to make a symphony! Opened mouth, wags its tail with every call of "Chip Chip", it seems as if its coughing with every call and they acknowledged each others call by responding with a louder "Chip Chip" :) This went on for about 10 minutes but it was too late when I realized that i should get my camera! Though it spoiled my weekend morning sleep, it has become my favorite subject of study and photography for over 2 months now...

I was sure I would get some good photographs if I start stalking them for a while and so it began, I used to sit beside the window for hours to sight them. These are very quick, they jump and run in wink of an eye! Observing them for a while and making notes of their behavior lead me to study about them more.

Some casual poses!

The Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) also known as three-striped palm squirrel because of it's prominent white three-strips on its back. The middle strip runs from its head to the tail and the other two outer strip runs from the fore limbs to the hind limbs. It has a light brownish-grey colored furry body with a bushy tail which it can move independent of it's body. Probably it uses the tail for the balance like other big mammals. Its chest and the abdomen region till the tail is white fur. It has five digits on the fore limbs and the hind limbs like other mammals, with small sharp claws which helps them to clinch on the barks and hold on to its food. It probably has a 2 long sharp teeth in the front to bite on the nuts and fruits.It has a long tongue and a pink short nose which keeps sniffing around. Plain round black eyes and a small ear keeps them alert to its environment.

It seemed as if the male (left) is trying to impress the female(right) by its stunts.

Made for each other! I have spotted them together many a times. They hang around each other all the time. Each one is very affectionate on the other. They both play around the tree and rest together. It is not just humans who show affection on his/her partner!

Always together

 

The kiss

As I started my observation, I saw more than 3 to 4 squirrels in the surrounding. But these two were like the native of this tree(sapota tree, commonly known as the 'chikku' tree). I have seen them chasing around the third squirrel to defend their food and territory. Though some references say the squirrels are omnivorous, i have not seen them  feeding on anything else apart the sapota fruit. Once they feed on it, they try to wipe off the gluey substance which comes from the fruit on the rough bark.

Feasting on the Sapota fruit

The secret!

Weekend laziness

Though these creatures stay alert all the time, the predator always keeps an eye on these. One day I noticed an eagle(probably) had hunted one of those neighboring squirrel. The squirrel was "Chip-ing" loudly for the help. I was a helpless viewer..All part of the food chain!

I wish them happy life.I wish I see their offspring sometime sooner. If they are able to hear me "It was a total pleasure watching you both fight, love and share your lives with each other"

Pecking out small insects from their furry body

Checking its bushy fancy tail!

We somehow forget about these small creatures around us.These are the most common animals we see around and so the interest on them are not as much as the big mammals. This blog post is an attempt to portray their life lives and to put down my notes so far. I look forward to record their calls, a small video to depict their lives and record their life happenings.

References :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_palm_squirrel

http://a-z-animals.com/animals/indian-palm-squirrel/ : Tells recent accidental introduction of the Indian palm squirrel into western Australia has made them a pest as the Indian palm squirrel has no real natural predators which has made the population of Indian palm squirrels in Australia thrive. 

http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/weeds-pest-animals-ants/pest-animals/a-z-listing-of-pest-animals/photo-guide-to-pest-animals/indian-palm-squirrel An Australian website list the 3-stripped squirrel as a major rodent and class 1 pest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVRzRAJL3MI A sample of the squirrel call.

I have also referred some of the papers on the Squirrel and its calls. I might have to check for the permission before referring from this blog.

So here is the Squirrel call, which i wanted to record.. Had to do a early morning drill to record it. Recorded on 8th July 2014.