Black Giant Squirrel

activity

Activity patterns. The Black Giant Squirrel is diurnal and lives most often above 20 m in the canopy, where it constructs a bolus drey of twigs and small branches in the crown of a tree. Dreys are constructed with long leafy twigs, some more than 31 m above the ground in the canopy, often on outermost branches of Koompassia (Fabaceae) or Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae) trees. Best predictor of nest location is height and girth of trees, with large mature trees favored. Nests do not appear to be lined with specific materials. Squirrels usually exited their nests in the morning, between 06: 00 h and 08: 00 h, but after rainy nights they might exit as late as 10: 00 h. They were most active between dawn and 10: 00 h, with a lesser peak of activity between 14: 00 h and 16: 00 h. Median time at which they reentered nests was 18: 01 h. The crested serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a known predator.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Continuous tropical rainforests. The Black Giant Squirrel also occurs in mature evergreen and semi-evergreen broadleaf forests of Indochina and the Sunda Shelf.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Population density of the Black Giant Squirrel was 11 ind / 100 ha. Median rate of travel for individuals when foraging and feeding was 30 m / h, ranging from a median 65 m / h in the morning to 10 m / h at midday and 50 m / h at end of day. Estimated median for total distance traveled was 315 m / day. Home ranges were estimated to be 5 - 5 - 9 ha and individuals used 5 - 9 nests within their home range. During a study in Malaysia’s Kuala Lompat, Black Giant Squirrels lived in the middle and upper canopy, seldom below 20 m.

Sciuridae

breeding

Breeding. Breeding follows a mating chase, apparently involving one male and an estrous female. Litter size averages 1 - 4 (range 1 - 3 young) with a gestation period of 28 - 35 days, and females may have two litters per year. On Peninsular Malaysia, pregnant Ratufa were found between April and September, suggesting that parturition occurs at the beginning or during peak fruiting season.

Sciuridae