Low's Squirrel

Fascinating facts about the Low's Squirrel

• Low's squirrel darts through the lower montane and lowland rainforests of Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, staying between 200 and 900 m (656-2953 ft) elevation. It prefers primary and secondary growth forests but also shows up in heavily logged patches, showing a tolerance for habitat disturbance. This range means the species can survive in both intact and fragmented landscapes, while still relying on forest cover for food and nesting.
• Weighing just 76 g (2.68 oz) and measuring about 23 cm (9.06 in) in total length, Low's squirrel is roughly the size of a large mouse. Its body can reach 13 cm with a 10 cm tail, giving it a compact, agile shape for navigating the forest floor and low branches.
• Stomach analyses show that bark makes up the bulk of Low's squirrel's diet, while animal remains fill only about 39 % of the stomach cavity. The squirrels preferentially strip smooth bark that flakes easily, targeting trees with low tannin and low alkaloid concentrations, or those rich in condensed or hydrolysable tannins, which break down into usable carbohydrates.
• Molecular work uncovered Sarcocystis muricoelognathis DNA in Low's squirrel, linking the rodent to a parasite that also infects rats and forest mice across Thailand, Borneo and China. The parasite's cyst wall structure and gene sequences were identical in squirrels and other hosts, indicating a broad geographic spread and host-switching ability. This shows that even a Least-Concern species can act as a reservoir for parasites that move between forest and commensal mammals, highlighting hidden disease dynamics in tropical ecosystems.
• Low's squirrel typically gives birth to two kits per litter. Although direct studies on its gestation are lacking, related species in the region have a 40-day gestation, suggesting a similar reproductive timeline.

At a glance

About the Low's Squirrel

In the lush, emerald canopies of Borneo's rainforests, the Low's Squirrel darts with effortless agility, its rusty-red fur blending seamlessly into the warm, sun-dappled light that filters through the leaves. With a twitch of its whiskers and a flick of its bushy tail, this diminutive creature navigates the intricate network of branches with precision, its large, round eyes drinking in every detail of its surroundings. As it leaps from tree to tree, the Low's Squirrel embodies the very essence of tropical forest life, a tiny, irrepressible spark of energy and curiosity that ignites the imagination.

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