Indochinese Ground Squirrel (Menetes berdmorei) lives in tropical dry forest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Indochinese Ground Squirrel
- It measures just 20 cm in body length, and its tail adds another 15 cm, giving it a compact, almost mouse-sized silhouette. The pointy head reinforces this mouse-like look, making it easy to mistake for a treeshrew. It lives on the forest floor, spending most of its time in the thick underwoods of the rainforest, though it also ventures into fields and villages where it can be seen in rice paddies. This ground-dwelling habit means it is rarely found in trees.
- Each flank bears a pair of contrasting stripes, a beige band with a black stripe below it, which are the most striking feature of its coat. The grey-brown back and white belly provide a muted background that highlights these side markings.
- It rarely climbs trees, preferring the dense undergrowth of rainforests where it forages close to the ground. Most of its activity occurs in the thick underwoods, allowing it to move swiftly among leaf litter and low vegetation. When not in forest, it is also common in fields and villages, especially rice paddies where it can become almost ubiquitous. This ground-focused lifestyle keeps it largely away from the canopy.
- In cultivated landscapes such as rice paddies and village fields, the Indochinese ground squirrel can become almost ubiquitous, appearing in large numbers across the area. While it spends most of its time in the thick undergrowth of rainforests, it readily moves into open fields where the dense leaf litter provides cover. Despite it being quite common only very little is known about the life of this squirrel.
- Although its common name includes "ground squirrel", the species is not a close relative of the Marmotini ground squirrels. It belongs to the genus Menetes and is native to Southeast Asia, ranging from the east of Myanmar and Yunnan to Vietnam and Cambodia. As a ground squirrel, it is rarely found on trees, but spends most of the time in the thick underwoods of the rainforests.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical dry forest
DietFruits and insects
About the Indochinese Ground Squirrel
In the scorching grasslands of Southeast Asia, the Indochinese Ground Squirrel darts with reckless abandon, its tawny fur fluffed against the blistering sun as it scurries in search of sustenance. With an irrepressible joie de vivre, it burrows into the earth with lightning speed, its tiny paws a blur as it constructs intricate networks of tunnels and dens. As it pauses to survey its surroundings, its large, dark eyes shine with a piercing intelligence, a testament to the remarkable adaptability of this diminutive yet resilient creature.
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