Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel (Dremomys lokriah) lives in himalayan mountain forests across Southeast Asia. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel
- Hodgson gave the orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel its first scientific name in 1836, calling it Sciurus lokriah. This designation introduced the species to formal taxonomy and anchored its identity in scientific literature. The naming reflected the conventions of the era, establishing a baseline for all later taxonomic work on the rodent.
- The original specimens were gathered from the South Tibet side of Mount Everest, providing the material Hodgson used for his 1836 description. Those early samples formed the basis for the species' initial scientific record and remain the historic reference point for its classification. The location highlights the high-altitude origins of the squirrel.
- Scientists currently recognise eight valid subspecies of the orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel, together covering the species' entire geographic range. Six of those subspecies occur in India, reflecting the country's role as a centre of diversity. All subspecies have been validated through morpho-taxonomy and multivariate analysis, though molecular work is still pending.
- India contains the bulk of the orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel's taxonomic variety, with six of the eight recognised subspecies occurring within its borders. The species as a whole is divided into eight valid subspecies that together span its whole range across South Asia.
- The orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel inhabits mountainous terrain across South Asia. Its distribution includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and China.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatHimalayan mountain forests
DietNuts and seeds
About the Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel
In the lush, emerald canopies of the Himalayas, the Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel dances through the trees with effortless agility, its vibrant orange underside glowing like a fleck of sunlight as it leaps from branch to branch. With a twitch of its bushy tail, it navigates the intricate network of limbs and leaves, its large, dark eyes shining with a keen intelligence as it forages for nuts and seeds in its mountainous domain. As it moves, the soft rustle of its fur and the gentle snap of twigs beneath its paws weave a subtle melody into the symphony of the forest.
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