Prevost's squirrel
Callosciurus prevostii
Prevost's squirrels, also known as Asian tri-coloured squirrel are native to the lowland forests and gardens of Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. They have striking tri-colour coats - the top of the head, back, and tail are jet-black or brownish, the underparts are reddish-brown and a white line separates the two colours.
These squirrels are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time exploring trees, rarely coming to the ground. Incredibly agile, they excel at climbing and jumping! Their toes, with their sharp claws are well adapted for clinging to tree trunks, while their tails help them balance and can even act as a rudder when they jump.
During the day they can be found in tree branches and sunbathing on logs. At night, they wrap their tails around themselves for warmth and nest in hollows amongst leaves and twigs.
Prevost’s squirrels are classified as Least Concern, but they do suffer from habitat destruction. They are also collected at great rates for the pet trade.
We are home to two female Prevost's squirrels who joined us in August 2024 - you can spot them exploring in the Magic Forest!
Population
Stable
Diet
Omnivore
Habitat
Forest
Fact file
Their genus name ‘callosciurus’ means ‘beautiful squirrel’
Their average weight at birth is 16g
Prevost's squirrels are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk!)
They have three different types of alarm calls: one for aerial predators, one for ground predators and one for snakes! They also use their tails to communicate
Their diet consists of seeds, nuts, fruits, eggs and insects. This means they are vital to the survival of the forests they live in, redistributing seeds from the fruit that they eat, giving rise to new generations of plants.
How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care, our Prevost's squirrels are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health, to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about RZSS conservation