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Range and Habitat: Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and the smaller Indonesian islands in lowland, mountain forests, cultivated areas and gardens.
Habits and Adaptations: Asian tri-colored squirrels are diurnal and mainly arboreal. They live in hollow trees or construct nests of leaves and twigs in the branches of trees or large bushes. The nest is very large, and lined with shredded bark and some grass. The squirrel stashes food like the gray squirrel of North America, when food is in excess. They have been seen hanging upside down from a branch by one foot.
Diet: In the wild, Asian tri-colored squirrels eat fruits, insects, nuts, buds and bird eggs. Zoo diet: mouse chow, crickets, nuts and fruit and vegetables.
Breeding and Maturation: A mating pair of squirrels will bond, but the male shows no interest in the young. Two to four young weighing about 0.6 ounces are born after a 46 - 48 day gestation. The altricial newborns are hairless and gray with leathery skin, and have a thick membrane covering their eyes. They gain adult coloration after 17 days and open their eyes by 22 days. The life span of the Asian tri-colored squirrel is approximately eight years in the wild.
Miscellaneous: The Asian tri-colored squirrel is considered vulnerable due to habitat destruction and over-exploitation for the fur trade. Squirrel catching provides a good source of income to some natives, who sell them to the pet trade. Many people keep these squirrels in cages of up to 200 animals for good luck.
The main predators of the Asian tri-colored squirrel are snakes, raptors and leopards.
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