A species found naturally in India (south of the genus) and in Sri Lanka.

F., a five-column palm squirrel with a close connection. Pentateuch is found in northern India and its range is partially overlapping with this species. 


Life Cycle

Gestation period is 34 days. Breeding takes place in autumn. The pups are weaned after about 10 weeks and reach sexual maturity at 9 months. Adult weight 100 g. The specimen lived in captivity for 5.5 years.

Phylum:         Chordata

 Class:         Mammalia

Kingdom: Animalia

Order:         Rodentia

Family:         Sciuridae

    Genus:         Funambulus

Species:         F. palmarum

Palm squirrels were introduced to Madagascar, Reunion, Mayotte, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles and Australia in the late nineteenth century.


This species is famous for its three distinctive stripes on the back.

It is very different from the only squirrel species in India with unique markings. For example, it is well known that Indian giant squirrels have a "rainbow coat". 


There are three species of palm squirrels in Sri Lanka.


They are,

Lena, Mukalan Leena and Anil, also known as Anil, are wild squirrels with flaming stripes. The squirrels are called Pulutu Lena or Podi Lena in Sinhala and Sin Anil in Tamil.



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