
Photographed at Fraser's Hill, Pahang,
Peninsular Malaysia at an elevation of around 900 metres.
Order : RODENTIA
Family : Sciuridae
Species : Tamiops macclellandiHead-Body Length :
11 cm
Tail Length : 11 cm
Weight : unknown
References : M3 |
The Himalayan, or Burmese,
Striped Squirrel is largely a species of montane, forested areas above 700
metres elevation, though in some parts of Burma it is reported as being
found at much lower altitudes. It is almost exclusively arboreal in habits,
preferring tall forests, fruit trees and coconut palms.
The species is small in size, and quick in habits :
it can easily be overlooked as it frantically moves from tree to tree
searching for their food source - mainly insects. The striped pattern serves
as an effective camouflage on fissured tree trunks.
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Searching a tree trunk for
insects.
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The thickness and length
of the alternating cream and dark brown dorsal stripes is the key
identifying feature, and is diagnostic in distinguishing it from other,
larger striped squirrels. In this species the stripes are thick and bold and
run from near the eye to the base of the tail, which is narrow and
short-haired. The
species ranges from the Himalayas through northern Burma and southern China
to Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.
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