Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits tropical rainforests and secondary forests on Palawan Island in the Philippines, preferring areas with dense canopy cover and abundant trees for nesting. It is found from lowland forests up to montane regions at elevations up to 1,000 meters, avoiding open or highly disturbed areas.
Diet
The Northern Palawan tree squirrel feeds mainly on fruits, seeds, nuts, and insects, often foraging in the canopy for these items. It exhibits opportunistic feeding behavior, including gnawing on bark for sap and occasionally consuming bird eggs. Feeding activity peaks in the early morning and late afternoon when it is most active.
Behavior
This squirrel is diurnal and arboreal, spending most of its time in trees where it builds nests from leaves and twigs. It is generally solitary or lives in pairs, showing territorial behavior by marking trees with scent glands. Notable behaviors include agile leaping between branches and a high-pitched alarm call to warn of predators.
Conservation Status
The IUCN lists the Northern Palawan tree squirrel as Vulnerable due to habitat loss from deforestation and mining. Population trends are decreasing, with major threats including fragmentation of forest habitats and human encroachment.