Topic
Indian palm squirrel
About: Indian palm squirrel is a(n) research topic. Over the lifetime, 32 publication(s) have been published within this topic receiving 181 citation(s). The topic is also known as: Funambulus palmarum.
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TL;DR: The Western Ghats squirrel, Funambulus tristriatus Waterhouse; the South Indian palm squirrel; and the black rat, Rattus rattus Linnaeus were observed to be causing much damage to cocoa in South India; the palm civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Pallas and the bonnet monkey, Macaca radiata Geoffroy were causing minor damage.
Abstract: The Western Ghats squirrel, Funambulus tristriatus Waterhouse; the South Indian palm squirrel, F. palmarum Linnaeus and the black rat, Rattus rattus Linnaeus were observed to be causing much damage to cocoa in South India; the palm civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Pallas and the bonnet monkey, Macaca radiata Geoffroy were causing minor damage. Monthly surveys made for one year in Karnataka showed that the percentage of damage caused by rodents was 29.0; that by civets and monkeys 0.4 and 0.3 respectively. In Kerala and one district of Tamil Nadu rodents were estimated to be causing 15% damage and civets 3%; no monkey damage was found.
12 citations
TL;DR: The role of the pineal gland in mediating the effects of photoperiod on the reproductive axis is not well established in tropical mammals, but when Indian palm squirrels (Funambulus pennanti) were exposed to sunlight, they showed marked changes in their sexual behaviour.
Abstract: The role of the pineal gland in mediating the effects of photoperiod on the reproductive axis is not well established in tropical mammals. Indian palm squirrels (Funambulus pennanti) were exposed t...
12 citations
TL;DR: The five-striped Indian palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti, is a seasonal breeder from January to August; mature females are sexually quiescent from September to December; recrudescence of the gonad starts in late December.
Abstract: The five-striped Indian palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti, is a seasonal breeder from January to August. Mature females are sexually quiescent from September to December; recrudescence of the gonad starts in late December. The palm squirrel is a reflex ovulator. A mature female may produce two litters of approximately three young each in one breeding season. The period of suckling is 6 weeks. Mature females experience a short period of post-lactational anoestrus during the breeding season prior to the onset of second oestrus. The role of exteroceptive factors in regulating the reproductive cycle of the palm squirrel is discussed.
11 citations
TL;DR: The reproductive cycle of the male Indian palm squirrel was investigated and there is a time lag in the response of accessory glands both during the transition from puberal to the adult condition and in adults during the change from recrudescence to breeding condition.
Abstract: The reproductive cycle of the male Indian palm squirrel was investigated from a collection of 365 animals during the period May 1963 to May 1965. It breeds from January to the end of July. This is followed by a period of regression (August-September) and the animals are quiescent during October and November. Redevelopment of the reproductive organs is initiated in December and results in the restoration of reproductive activity in late January. Sexual maturity in squirrels is attained by 8 to 9 months of age. The histological changes in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens with age and breeding season are described. The weights of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles show changes that parallel testicular weights and interstitial cell morphology. However, there is a time lag in the response of accessory glands both during the transition from puberal to the adult condition and in adults during the change from recrudescence to breeding condition. The role of exteroceptive factors in regulating the reproductive cycle of the palm squirrel is discussed.
9 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that the effect of 5-methoxyindoles in the female palm squirrel is independent of the pineal gland and that 5- methoxytraptophol and 5-Methoxytryptophan are more potent than melatonin.
Abstract: We studied the effects of four indolamines (melatonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, 5-methoxytryptophol, and 5-methoxytryptophan) on ovarian activity in a tropical rodent, the Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus pennati), during the sexually active phase. Injection of the four 5-methoxyindoles at a dose of 20 μg/0.1 mL per animal every evening for 30 days reduced ovarian mass in both intact and pinealectomized animals. Intact animals treated with 5-methoxyindoles had a lower uterine mass than the intact controls. On the other hand, the uterine mass of pinealectomized animals treated with 5-methoxyindoles did not differ from that of their respective controls. Plasma estradiol levels showed a similar pattern to ovarian masses. We conclude that the effect of 5-methoxyindoles in the female palm squirrel is independent of the pineal gland and that 5-methoxytraptophol and 5-methoxytryptophan are more potent than melatonin.
5 citations