SQUIRRELS

Common Name: Northern Palm Squirrel / Five-striped Palm Squirrel

Order: Rodentia Family: SCIURIDAE
Scientific Name: Funumbalus pennanti
Bangla Name: Dora Kathbirali

The only striped squirrel found in western Bangladesh. It has five whitish stripes on the back and sides, two each on the sides and one down the centre. The dorsal side is brownish, sides and underside greyish with tinge of brown, tail brownish but grizzled. Head and body 16 cm and tail 18 cm.

It is a common species in most part of Bangladesh West of 90° E, i.e. West of the Jamuna. It is very common in Jessore District. It does not occur in the Sundardans, hence is absent in Bangladesh forests.

Common Name: Indian or three-striped palm squirrel

Order: Rodentia Family: SCIURIDAE
Scientific Name: Funumbalus palmarum
Bangla Name: Dora Kathbirali

The Indian or three-striped palm squirrel has only three stripes one on the centre and one each on either side. It is likely to be present in the sal and evergreen forests of Bangladesh East of 90° E.

Common Name: Black Squirrel / Malayan Giant Squirrel

Order: Rodentia
Scientific Name: Ratuta bicolor gigantea
Bangla Name: Brihat Kalo Kathbirali

An unmistakable forest dweller, commonly visible giant squirrel species. Overall colour appears to be black, which is actually very deep brown resembling black from a distance, underparts rusty or pale brown, occasionally greyish, tail blackish It has an oblique dark cheek stripe in fornt of the eyes. Head and body 40 cm, tail 60 cm.

It is very common in the evergreen forests of Sylhet, Chittagong and Hill Tracts districts and absent in the Sundarbans and sal forests, except a part of the northern Jamalpur and Mymensingh districts.

Common Name: Irrawaddy's squirrel / Hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrel

Order: Rodentia
Scientific Name: Callosciurus pygerythrus
Bangla Name: Badami Kathbirali

Brownish or rufous small squirrel like the palm ones with greyish or issabelline belly and a rounded snout. Irrawaddy's squirrel have two rings on the hairs. Head and body 20 cm, and tail 23 cm.

Irrawaddy's squirrel is the commonest of the squirrels of Bangladesh East of 90°E. There was a good population in Dhaka city even around 1971, now it is rare here, although common in the sal and other forested areas of the eastern part. It is absent in the Sundarbans and coastal forests.

Common Name: Red giant flying squirrel / Large brown flying squirrel

Order: Rodentia
Scientific Name: Petaurista petaurista philippinus
Bangla Name: Lalchey Uranta Kathbirali

One of the two very large gliding mammals of Bangladesh, having limbs connected by a flap of skin-membrane or parachute without any bony support. As the squirrel jumps into the air from a tree the out-stretched limbs expand the parachute to its fullest extent. Other times it is tucked in. Almost uniformly brown to reddish brown with some grizzled hairs on the back and more rufous on the parachute than the body. The most characteristic tail is much longer than the body, ribbon-like, flattened dorso-ventrally and brownish in colour. Head and body 45 cm, tail 60 cm.

It is definately present in the forests of Hill Tracts North and South FDs, as one of the divisional forest officers had a skin and he had sighted several others. It may be present in Sylhet and Chittagong districts. It is rare.

Common Name: Hodgson's flying squirrel

Order: Rodentia
Scientific Name: Petaurista magnificus
Bangla Name: Hodgsonser Uranta Kathbirali

This is the other large flying squirrel found within our jurisdiction and can be easily separated from the other flying squirrels by its cylindrical tail instead of flatfish, ribbonlike ones. Dorsal coat deep maroon and underside rufous, parachute much lighter than the body, it often possesses a bright yellow line down the middle of its deep maroon coat. Head and body 45 cm, tail 60 cm.

Dr. Reza had collected a dead specimen from the Dohazari PS of Chittagong district in 1982, marking its definite presence in Bangladesh. It is rare but occurs in the evergreen forest of our eastern hilly areas. People of Chittagong named it as "Bager Mathar Taag", meaning animal which can ride on the head of a tiger.