Prevost’s Squirrel

NAME:

Prevost’s Squirrel

ZOO NAME:

Bozo (born 9/22/97), Berrie (9/29/99), & Bandit (3/13/02)

CLASS:

Mammalia

GENUS:

Callosciurus

SPECIES:

C. prevosti

LENGTH:

11” with 9” tail

WEIGHT:

2 lbs.

LIFESPAN:

16 yrs (captivity), 8-10 yrs (wild).

DIET:

Fruit, seeds, nuts, insects, bird eggs.

PREDATORS:

Raptors, Small Carnivores, Snakes

RANGE

Southeast Asia

HABITAT

Lowland & Montane Forests.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Prevost’s Squirrel is also known as the “tri-colored” squirrel and has black, white, and reddish stripes down its body. Their generic name, callosciurus, means beautiful squirrel. These rodents have small ears, good eyesight and chisel-shaped incisors that grow continuously and must be worn away by use.

BEHAVIOR

Like most squirrels, Prevost’s Squirrels are amazing climbers and jumpers. They are extremely agile and use their tails as a balance when the squirrel runs or climbs and as a rudder when it jumps. These bushy tails are also used to communicate with one another. An agitated squirrel will twitch its tail, much like a cat. Tricolored Squirrels make their homes in hollow trees or build nests of leaves and twigs high in the branches of forest trees.

REPRODUCTION

Tricolored Squirrels have a gestation of only 3-6 weeks, after which a litter of 2-3 pups are born. The young are born early in the year, hairless, toothless and helpless with their eyes closed. Juveniles leave the nest after 45 days of parental care and are mature at 1 year.