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Indian Palm Squirrel


Indian Palm Squirrel
Photo Information
Copyright: Prachi Narawade (prachi_narawade) (38)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-02-08
Categories: Mammals
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-22 2:38
Viewed: 404
Points: 2
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Indian Palm Squirrel

The Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) also known as Three-Striped Palm Squirrel, is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found naturally in India and Sri Lanka. More recently, the Palm Squirrel has been accidentally introduced into Western Australia, where it has become a minor pest that is actively eradicated due to its lack of natural predators.

Description
Palm squirrels are about the size of rats with a bushy tail which is slightly shorter than their body. Their back is a grizzled grey-brown colour with five conspicuous white stripes, three of which run from head to tail. The two outer stripes run from the forelegs to the hind legs only. They have a creamy white belly and a tail covered with interspersed long black and white hairs. Their ears are small and triangular.

Legendary stripes
The stripes on the Palm Squirrels back are explained by a Hindu legend. The legend has it that a squirrel helped in the construction of the Adi sethu (bridge) at Rameswaram. The bridge was being constructed by Lord Rama and the Vanara Sena, and the squirrel played its part by rolling in beach sand then running to the bridge to shake the sand from its back, all the time chanting Lord Rama's name. Lord Rama was pleased by the creature's dedication and, in stroking the squirrel's back, the mark of Rama's fingers was left on the squirrel ever since. This association with Lord Rama explains why squirrels are considered sacred in India.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Palm_Squirrel

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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Prachi,
capturing a moving subject is difficult and you have done it and that too with good sharpness.
Regards
Nazir

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