The Indian giant squirrel is appropriately named as it is three times the size of the common eastern grey squirrel. They can reach a length of 40 inches, counting its two-foot tail and weigh around four pounds.

Their beautiful coats are usually a two-to-three-toned combination of red, tan, maroon or brown. The Indian giant squirrel’s underparts, legs and tail tip are usually cream-coloured with a white spot between its round ears.

Indian giant squirrels are made for life in the trees. Their two-foot tail provides excellent balance and their strong hindlegs allow them to jump up to 20 feet from tree to tree. The Indian giant squirrel’s multi-coloured coat grants them some camouflage from leopards and birds of prey. If threatened, a giant squirrel will flatten itself to a tree to appear like a passing shadow.

Females and males look indistinguishable except for the three sets of mammae on the females.