The document summarizes two types of squirrels - the palm squirrel (Fanambulus) and the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa). The palm squirrel is about the size of a large chipmunk, has three white stripes on its back, and a creamy white belly. It mainly eats nuts and fruits and can be domesticated. The Indian giant squirrel is much larger and rarely leaves trees, having a two-toned color scheme. It is endemic to forests in peninsular India and travels between trees by jumping up to 6 meters. Both squirrels play an important role in seed dispersal in their ecosystems.

1. ZOOLOGY SEMINARZOOLOGY SEMINAR
BYBY
ANJALI A SANJALI A S

2. ORDER : RodentiaORDER : Rodentia
EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: FANAMBULUSFANAMBULUS
RATUFARATUFA

3. FANAMBULUSFANAMBULUS
 It is commonly known as Palm squirrelIt is commonly known as Palm squirrel
 It is about the size of large chipmunk with aIt is about the size of large chipmunk with a
bushy tail slightly shorter than its bodybushy tail slightly shorter than its body

4.  The back is a grizzled, grey-brown color with threeThe back is a grizzled, grey-brown color with three
conspicuous white strips which run from head to tailconspicuous white strips which run from head to tail
 The two outer stripes run from the hind legs onlyThe two outer stripes run from the hind legs only
 It has a creamy white belly and a tail covered withIt has a creamy white belly and a tail covered with
interspersed ,long, black and white hairinterspersed ,long, black and white hair
 The ears are small and triangularThe ears are small and triangular

5.  Juvenile squirrels have significantly lighterJuvenile squirrels have significantly lighter
coloration, which gets progressively darker ascoloration, which gets progressively darker as
they agethey age
 These squirrels mainly eat nuts and fruitsThese squirrels mainly eat nuts and fruits
 They are opportunists in urban areas, and canThey are opportunists in urban areas, and can
be easily domesticated and trained to acceptbe easily domesticated and trained to accept
food from humanfood from human

6.  They tend to be very protective of their foodThey tend to be very protective of their food
source, often guarding and defending them fromsource, often guarding and defending them from
birds and other squirrelsbirds and other squirrels

7.  The gestation period is 34 days; breeding takes place inThe gestation period is 34 days; breeding takes place in
grass nests during the autumngrass nests during the autumn
 The young are weaned after about 10 weeks and areThe young are weaned after about 10 weeks and are
sexually mature at 9 monthssexually mature at 9 months

8. RATUFARATUFA
 It is commonly known as Indian giant squirrelIt is commonly known as Indian giant squirrel
 It rarely leaves the trees, and requires “tallIt rarely leaves the trees, and requires “tall
profusely branched trees for the construction ofprofusely branched trees for the construction of
nests”nests”
 It is two toned( sometimes three toned) colorIt is two toned( sometimes three toned) color
schemescheme

9.  The color involved buff, tan,The color involved buff, tan,
rust, brown, or even a darkrust, brown, or even a dark
seal brownseal brown
 The under parts and hindThe under parts and hind
legs are usually creamlegs are usually cream
coloredcolored
 The head can be brown orThe head can be brown or
beige, however there is abeige, however there is a
distinctive white spotdistinctive white spot
between the earsbetween the ears

10.  It is endemic to deciduous,It is endemic to deciduous,
mixed deciduous, and moistmixed deciduous, and moist
evergreen forests ofevergreen forests of
peninsular India, reaching aspeninsular India, reaching as
far north as the Satpura hillfar north as the Satpura hill
range of Madhya Pradeshrange of Madhya Pradesh
 It occupies isolated rangesIt occupies isolated ranges
that are that are widelythat are that are widely
separated from each other,separated from each other,
thus producing conditionsthus producing conditions
favorable for speciationfavorable for speciation

11.  It travel tree to tree with jumps of up to 6mIt travel tree to tree with jumps of up to 6m
 When in danger, t freezes or flattens it selfWhen in danger, t freezes or flattens it self
against the tree trunk, instead of fleeingagainst the tree trunk, instead of fleeing
 Its main predators are the birds of prey andIts main predators are the birds of prey and
leopardleopard
 The giant squirrel is mostly active in the earlyThe giant squirrel is mostly active in the early
hour of the morning and in the evening, restinghour of the morning and in the evening, resting
in the middayin the midday
 It is a shy, wary animal and not easy to discoverIt is a shy, wary animal and not easy to discover

12.  The are solitary animals thatThe are solitary animals that
only come together foronly come together for
breedingbreeding
 This animal believed to play aThis animal believed to play a
substantial role in shaping thesubstantial role in shaping the
ecosystem of its habitat onlyecosystem of its habitat only
engaging in seed dispersalengaging in seed dispersal

13. Thank youThank you