Black Giant Squirrel
One of the world's largest squirrels, with a striking black-and-cream coat, living high in the Asian rainforest canopy.
- Lifespan
- Up to 10 years
- Habitat
- Tropical and subtropical forest
- Diet
- Fruit, nuts, bark, insects
- Region
- South & Southeast Asia
01 — Gallery
Black Giant Squirrel photographs
Select a photograph to view it full size.
02 — Field guide
Getting to know the Black Giant Squirrel
The Black Giant Squirrel is one of the largest squirrels in the world, found across the forests of South and Southeast Asia. Its striking two-tone coat glossy black on the back and pale cream or buff on the underside makes it unmistakable in the forest canopy. It spends almost its entire life in the treetops, leaping between branches with remarkable agility, rarely descending to the ground.
Questions & answers
The Black Giant Squirrel is usually solitary.
The Black Giant Squirrel is typically diurnal.
The Black Giant Squirrel is resident.
The main threats facing the Black Giant Squirrel include Deforestation, Hunting, and Habitat fragmentation.
The Black Giant Squirrel population trend is currently decreasing.
Well-known places to look for the Black Giant Squirrel include Kinabatangan River (Borneo), Danum Valley (Malaysia), Khao Yai National Park (Thailand), and Western Ghats (India).
Natural predators of the Black Giant Squirrel include Crested Serpent Eagle, Large pythons, and Clouded leopard.
The Black Giant Squirrel is part of the Sciuridae family and a Rodentia order.
The Black Giant Squirrel weighs about 1.5 kg and reaches about 35 cm in length.
