6751. Plantain squirrel in the Bird Paradise

 ORIGINAL IMAGES

The plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) is Singapore's most common native squirrel, featuring an olive-brown body, a reddish-brown belly, and distinctive black-and-white side stripes. Users on Reddit agree that they are widespread across the island. [1, 2, 3]

Physical Traits and Behavior

Size: Grows to about 22 cm long with a bushy tail of a similar length.
Habits: Active during the day; spends almost all its time high up in trees making large spherical nests out of twigs and leaves.
Calls: Makes sharp chirping sounds often mistaken for bird calls. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Habitat and Diet in Singapore

Where to find them: Abundant in urban parks, gardens, mangroves, and high-rise housing estates near green spaces like the Singapore Botanic Gardens and nature reserves. 
What they eat: Omnivorous diet consisting mainly of fruits, seeds, leaves, and occasionally insects or flower nectar.
Ecological role: Acts as an "accidental gardener" by helping disperse plant and tree seeds.