One of the largest and most striking squirrels on Earth, native to the lush forests of South and Southeast Asia. It’s almost the size of a house cat, with a long, bushy tail that makes up nearly half its length. Its fur is usually a deep black or dark brown on the upper body, sharply contrasting with a pale cream or buff underside. This dramatic coloration is beautiful and helps the squirrel blend into the shadowy upper canopy, where dappled light hides its outline from predators. Compared to other giant squirrels, the Black giant squirrel is less colorful than species like the Indian giant squirrel, but it has a sleeker, more uniform look that gives it an elegant silhouette.

Life for the Black giant squirrel is almost entirely arboreal, meaning it lives high in the treetops and rarely touches the ground. It’s an expert at navigating the canopy, leaping across gaps up to 6 meters (20 feet) in a single bound. Its long tail acts as a balancing pole mid-air, allowing for precision landings even on thin branches. This squirrel’s diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, flowers, and tender leaves, and feeding on the treetops helps disperse seeds and maintain the forest’s biodiversity. Unlike some other squirrels that stash food for later, the Black giant squirrel usually eats on the spot—dropping seed shells and fruit remains to the forest floor, where other animals can take advantage.

What sets this species apart from many of its squirrel relatives is its solitary nature. While smaller squirrels are often playful and social, the Black giant squirrel prefers to live alone or in pairs, coming together mainly during the breeding season. This quiet, reserved personality makes it harder to spot in the wild, especially since it tends to avoid areas disturbed by humans.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Bangladesh

2016

Bhutan

2016

Cambodia

2016

China

2016

India

2016

Indonesia

2016

Laos

2016

Malaysia

2016

Myanmar

2016

Nepal

2016

Thailand

2016

Vietnam

2016