AnimalsThe Indian palm squirrel is the small striped squirrel seen in gardens across southern India. It has three pale stripes down its back. It is busy by day, feeding on nuts, fruit and flowers, and makes a sharp chirping call.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Funambulus palmarum
- Group
- Mammals
- Diet
- Omnivore (eats plants and animals)
- Lives in
- India and Sri Lanka
- Habitat
- Gardens, groves and towns
- A young one is called
- kit or pup
- A group is called
- scurry
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Mammalia
- Order Rodentia
- Family Sciuridae
- Genus Funambulus
- Species Funambulus palmarum
More distant relatives in the order Rodentia: house mouse, Indian crested porcupine, North American beaver.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The Indian palm squirrel is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.