Black Giant Squirrel eating Sea Almond fruits

Steven Struyck’s images of the Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) show it eating fruits of Sea Almond (Terminalia catappa).

This is one of the largest squirrels in the world. Its body can be as long as 370mm long, not including the tail that can be as long as 460mm. The back is black or dark brown while the underparts are orange. It is diurnal, often found in the forest canopy. It feeds mainly on fruits, nuts and young leaves.

This is an Asiatic species that extends down to Peninsular Malaysia, but not in Singapore. According to Steven, it is “a daily view here in Penang.”

Steven Struyck
Penang, Malaysia
11th November 2016

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.