Mammals
Tufted Ground Squirrel
Rheithrosciurus macrotis · also called vampire squirrel
Foraging on the rainforest floor of Borneo, a tufted ground squirrel trails a tail so full it seems to belong to a bigger animal, an oddity that helped inspire a legend of a deer-killing vampire squirrel.
Overview
The tufted ground squirrel, Rheithrosciurus macrotis, is a Vulnerable rodent found only in the rainforests of Borneo. Its enormous bushy tail, nut-cracking teeth, and the vampire squirrel legend make it one of the most unusual squirrels in the world.
A legend built on a tail
The tufted ground squirrel’s tail is so remarkable that local stories grew up around it, though the animal itself is a nut-gnawing forager rather than a deer-killer.
Status
Vulnerable, with a population believed to be declining as lowland rainforest on Borneo is lost.
Tufted Ground Squirrel: common questions
Why is it called the vampire squirrel?
A local legend claims it kills deer, a story that gave it the nickname, though there is no good evidence for it.
How big is the tufted ground squirrel's tail?
It is reported to be so bushy that its volume exceeds that of the squirrel's body, one of the fullest tails of any mammal.
What does the tufted ground squirrel eat?
It feeds on hard-shelled nuts and seeds, which it gnaws open with its strong teeth.
Where is the tufted ground squirrel found?
It is found only in lowland and hill rainforest on the island of Borneo.