About Funambulus sublineatus obscurus (Pelzeln & Kohl, 1886)
The Nilgiri striped squirrel (Funambulus sublineatus) is a small, threatened rodent species belonging to the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is native to rainforests of the southern Western Ghats, including the Nilgiris, in Peninsular India. Before a recent taxonomic split, Funambulus obscurus from Sri Lanka was classified as a subspecies of F. sublineatus. When these populations were combined into one species, the English common name "dusky striped squirrel" was used for the combined group; this name is now restricted only to the Sri Lankan F. obscurus species. Before the taxonomic split, the recognized range of the species included both India and Sri Lanka. After the split, F. sublineatus, also called the Nilgiri palm squirrel, is now limited in distribution to the Western Ghats of India. It is confined to wet humid forests in the Western Ghats, Nilgiri hills, and surrounding areas such as the region around Kodaikanal, India. Very little is known overall about this squirrel. It is likely the smallest species in its genus, Funambulus, and weighs approximately 40 grams. Because it is now recognized as an endemic mammal of India, existing species records for F. sublineatus need to be updated.
