Layard's palm squirrel or flame-striped jungle squirrel (Funambulus layardi) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridaeendemic to Sri Lanka. The validity of the subspecies F. l. dravidianus based on a single specimen from the southern tip of India has been questioned,[3] and is probably a juvenile F. sublineatus.[1] Known as මූකලන් ලේනා (mukalan lena) in Sinhala.
It is endemic to the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Few observations are known out of central hills, such as from Trincomalee and Matara districts, but it remains unresolved. It can be seen in Knuckles mountain range and other high altitude ranges in western basin of the central hills.
Descriptionedit
Its head and body length is 12–17 cm, with a 14-cm tail. In color, it is blackish brown with three stripes on its dorsum; the central stripe is broadest and longest with an orange hue in F. signatus, yellow in F. layardi. Its underparts are reddish orange in color, and its snout is small.[4] Tail bushy and blackish brown with some red in it. Some individuals also possess some grizzling appearance on it. Fur is soft, short and dense.[5]
Habitat and ecologyedit
Its natural habitat is subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests or subtropical and tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a diurnal species as other squirrels of the genus and forage in full daytime. They are found on canopy level in forests, where they spend little time on ground. With night falls, they start to become noisy.
The main predators of this little creature are snakes, raptor birds, civets and small cats. Mongooses can be predators when they land on the ground floor.
Dietedit
Unlike other squirrels, they are slightly omnivores that eat fruits, young shoots, nuts and also insects when herbivore diets scarce.
Reproductionedit
They live as a pair until death, so pair-bonding is high. About 3 offspring are produced per time within a nest made by grass, leaves and fiber plant parts in forest canopy. Breeding season is change with the rainy seasons.[5]
Conservationedit
They are protected under the law and strictly prohibited of catching and hunting. But logging, and habitat destruction are the major threats for their lives. The population is declining in each year.
Referencesedit
^ abde A. Goonatilake, W.L.D.P.T.S. (2016). "Funambulus layardi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8700A22260033. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T8700A22260033.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Thorington, R.W. Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (3rd ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN0-8018-8221-4. OCLC 26158608.
^Srinivasulu C; S Chakraborty & MS Pradhan (2004). (PDF). Zoos' Print Journal. 19 (2): 1351–1360. doi:10.11609/jott.zpj.19.2.1351-60. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-03. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
^. Archived from the original on 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
^ abYapa, A.; Ratnavira, G. (2013). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. p. 1012. ISBN978-955-8576-32-8.
This squirrel article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
layard, palm, squirrel, flame, striped, jungle, squirrel, funambulus, layardi, species, rodent, family, sciuridae, endemic, lanka, validity, subspecies, dravidianus, based, single, specimen, from, southern, india, been, questioned, probably, juvenile, sublinea. Layard s palm squirrel or flame striped jungle squirrel Funambulus layardi is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae endemic to Sri Lanka The validity of the subspecies F l dravidianus based on a single specimen from the southern tip of India has been questioned 3 and is probably a juvenile F sublineatus 1 Known as ම කලන ල න mukalan lena in Sinhala Layard s palm squirrel Conservation status Vulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae Genus Funambulus Species F layardi Binomial name Funambulus layardi Blyth 1849 Subspecies 2 F l layardi F l dravidianus F l signatus Synonyms Funambulus layardi Robinson 1917 Sciurus layardi Blyth 1849 Tamoides layardi Phillips 1935 subsp layardi Tamoides layardi Phillips 1935 subsp signatus Contents 1 Distribution 2 Description 3 Habitat and ecology 4 Diet 5 Reproduction 6 Conservation 7 ReferencesDistribution editIt is endemic to the central highlands of Sri Lanka Few observations are known out of central hills such as from Trincomalee and Matara districts but it remains unresolved It can be seen in Knuckles mountain range and other high altitude ranges in western basin of the central hills Description editIts head and body length is 12 17 cm with a 14 cm tail In color it is blackish brown with three stripes on its dorsum the central stripe is broadest and longest with an orange hue in F signatus yellow in F layardi Its underparts are reddish orange in color and its snout is small 4 Tail bushy and blackish brown with some red in it Some individuals also possess some grizzling appearance on it Fur is soft short and dense 5 Habitat and ecology editIts natural habitat is subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests or subtropical and tropical moist montane forests It is threatened by habitat loss It is a diurnal species as other squirrels of the genus and forage in full daytime They are found on canopy level in forests where they spend little time on ground With night falls they start to become noisy The main predators of this little creature are snakes raptor birds civets and small cats Mongooses can be predators when they land on the ground floor Diet editUnlike other squirrels they are slightly omnivores that eat fruits young shoots nuts and also insects when herbivore diets scarce Reproduction editThey live as a pair until death so pair bonding is high About 3 offspring are produced per time within a nest made by grass leaves and fiber plant parts in forest canopy Breeding season is change with the rainy seasons 5 Conservation editThey are protected under the law and strictly prohibited of catching and hunting But logging and habitat destruction are the major threats for their lives The population is declining in each year References edit a b de A Goonatilake W L D P T S 2016 Funambulus layardi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T8700A22260033 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T8700A22260033 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Thorington R W Jr Hoffmann R S 2005 Family Sciuridae In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World a taxonomic and geographic reference 3rd ed The Johns Hopkins University Press pp 754 818 ISBN 0 8018 8221 4 OCLC 26158608 Srinivasulu C S Chakraborty amp MS Pradhan 2004 Checklist of Sciurids Mammalia Rodentia Sciuridae of South Asia PDF Zoos Print Journal 19 2 1351 1360 doi 10 11609 jott zpj 19 2 1351 60 Archived from the original PDF on 2018 06 03 Retrieved 2010 05 09 Layard s palm squirrel photo Funambulus layardi G125809 ARKive Archived from the original on 2015 01 10 Retrieved 2015 01 10 a b Yapa A Ratnavira G 2013 Mammals of Sri Lanka Colombo Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka p 1012 ISBN 978 955 8576 32 8 nbsp This squirrel article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Layard 27s palm squirrel amp oldid 1201887779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
