He Looks A Different Squirrel To Me!
By AKRao24
@AKRao24 (27424)
India
May 7, 2018 10:39am CST
This is the time in India, when squirrels are seen in plenty outdoors playing on and underneath the trees.
We get an opportunity to see lot of young ones with their parents.
But this time surprisingly I have seen a family with four young squirrels which are unusually white colored. 
Usually the Indian squirrels are grey colored with three black stripes running on their back. But these young ones are white with very fade stripes. 
They are not Albinos as they have pigmented eyes. This must a result of some genetic mutation!
The young ones are very active, cute, naughty and with full of life. 
It took me a lot of time to have a picture with my mobile phone which was all that I had at that time and I am posting the picture here!
The picture is not clear but you can make out what wanted to say in the discussion!
What you feel about these babies?
Have you ever seen such squirrels?
Do you think they are going to have white babies in future too?
Please respond! Your response will be appreciated! Thanks!
We get an opportunity to see lot of young ones with their parents.
But this time surprisingly I have seen a family with four young squirrels which are unusually white colored.
Usually the Indian squirrels are grey colored with three black stripes running on their back. But these young ones are white with very fade stripes.
They are not Albinos as they have pigmented eyes. This must a result of some genetic mutation!
The young ones are very active, cute, naughty and with full of life.
It took me a lot of time to have a picture with my mobile phone which was all that I had at that time and I am posting the picture here!
The picture is not clear but you can make out what wanted to say in the discussion!
What you feel about these babies?
Have you ever seen such squirrels?
Do you think they are going to have white babies in future too?
Please respond! Your response will be appreciated! Thanks!22 people like this
24 responses
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
7 May 18
Wow!!!! What a beautiful and cute squirrel. Honestly, I really want to see squirrels also but I have never seen them all my life.. but hopefully someday, I will have the chance to see them..
4 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
7 May 18
Squirrels are rodents, that means they belong to rat family and are very active and cute! I never had the idea that in Philippines you don't have squirrels! Of course you definitely will have a chance them to see dear friend just have a patience! Thanks!
2 people like this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
7 May 18
@thesupersingh I don't have any knowledge about this animal
I used to see normal squirrels daily.. but this one looks different,@Teekaaa (11580)
• India
8 May 18
@AKRao24 yes! We do have lots of squirrels around my house .. they'll be running here and there... playing , climbing,falling from tree and doing all naughty things,which will be nice to see!! But the most beautiful thing is , while they eat nuts ,it will be so nice to see!
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
7 May 18
Squirrels are not common here in our country, Akrao. It would be nice to see them. Isnt albinism a genetic mutation too? What other genetic mutations are there too?
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
7 May 18
Yes, i understand that squirrels are not common in Philippines! Yes, I am sure you would enjoy watching them!
Albinism is not a genetic mutation, it is definitely a genetic disorder and caused by presence of recessive genes in an individual!
There are 4 types of genetic mutations where the DNA s are altered in the genes, everything depends on how they get altered! There are many diseases in human beings caused by genetic mutations! Thanks @mlgen1037 !
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
8 May 18
@mlgen1037 , We have this problem in Metros where we miss lot of animals!
No problem about the confusion dear friend! Take care! Thanks!
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
8 May 18
@AKRao24 Youre most welcome, Akrao. I am sure I would. So sad that animals here in the metro are limited.
Thank you for clarifying that as I am sometimes confused with mutation and disorder.
1 person likes this
@Amyensees (30)
•
7 May 18
You asked Jessa if squirrels are endangered the red squirrel is endangered or on the list of threatened in the UK. And I believe the flying squirrel was on the list of endangered but isn't any longer that was a long time. In fact I thought I was invasive in some places.
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
7 May 18
Thanks a lot for this important piece of information! Though it was not me who asked @Jessabuma if squirrels are endangered, it was @thesupersingh, despite that I sincerely thanks you to enhance our knowledge @Amyensees !
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
7 May 18
@Amyensees, yes i can understand that , no problem at all....thanks for everything!
@Amyensees (30)
•
7 May 18
He is so adorable. Yes he's a white morph of I guess the eastern gray squirrel? I love squirrels they are so fun to watch.
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
7 May 18
Yes, indeed! He is cute and adorable! I too have the feeling that he is mutant eastern gray squirrel ! i also love to watch them and the daring what they exhibit! They can hush away the crows when they come to have left overs of the feed given my dogs! I used to have few pictures in action but I think I have to search for them to post! Thanks @Amyensees !
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
8 May 18
That is one cute squirrel.
There are no squirrels here in the city so I do not see these furry little creatures.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
8 May 18
I think in Philipines you don't have squirrels! I am not very sure about that! But you must be having them in local Zoos no? Thanks dear friend @allen0187 !
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
9 May 18
@allen0187 ,Oh I see, if your go to zoo, I think you can get to see another variety of Squirrel from India which is brown in color and bigger in size too! Thanks dear friend!
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
9 May 18
@AKRao24 haven't been to the zoo in a long time so not really sure.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
7 May 18
Looks more like a chipmunk to me.
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
7 May 18
Yes, i can understand why you are saying so...In fact the field squirrels and chipmunk look similar but with a difference that Chipmunks are small in size and they have distinct head stripes which are not seen in filed squirrels. They are entirely two different and they can't even breed to have a young one! Thanks dear @JohnRoberts!
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16337)
• Raurkela, India
8 May 18
This white squirrel looks really cute. I haven't seen a white squirrel.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
8 May 18
Thanks a lot @aninditasen ! I wonder if this is some thing new I found in Indian Palm squirrels?
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
9 May 18
@aninditasen , I think this a case of gene mutation! I agree with you! Thanks!
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16337)
• Raurkela, India
9 May 18
@AKRao24 No this is a rare species and may be genetically modified.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
8 May 18
This is a Indian Palm Squirrel which could be with a mutant gene because of which he must have acquired such white color! Do you have squirrels at the place where you live? Thanks for appreciating the picture and responding @Hannihar! Have a nice time!
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
7 May 18
That is very cool. I have not seen a squirrl like that before.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
9 May 18
He is so cute and I loved the picture.
I have never seen the white coloured ones.
(May be they did not helped well Lord Rama while constructing the Sethu in the sea (just joking, as you said they have faded stripes. It is believed that they got the stripes and Lord Ram ran over his finger on squirrels - for information of other members who are not aware about the story )
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
7 May 18
There are plenty of squirrels here ,But I have never come across a white one.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
7 May 18
Yes, in India this is the season when we get to see lot of squirrels coming out enjoying! In fact it was my curiosity about this squirrel and his brothers if they the first ones I have seen or there have been more in the past! Thanks @silvermist!
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44426)
• Staten Island, New York
8 May 18
I was thinking it's albino before you said it is not. I've never seen a squirrel like this. Wonder what species it is.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
8 May 18
This is an Indian Palm Squirrel which are grey in color and have three black stripes on their back! You can refer the picture I posted here in @Starmaiden's discussion! Thanks a lot for the interest you have shown!
2 people like this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
8 May 18
I believe that your cute little friend is a white Siberian chipmunk. Here is a photo I found on Pinterest of a White Siberian chipmunk. Looks like he could be your visitor. 
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
8 May 18
Wow! That is a great piece of work @Starmaiden ! It look you have taken efforts to identify this friend of us!
Though Chipmunk and squirrels both are rodents and belong to same family called 'Sciuridae'!
But there is slight difference between them, Chipmunks are smaller in size and they have stripes on their face which is not seen in squirrels.
So this friend of ours seems to be a squirrel , which is known as Indian Palm Squirrel with a mutated gene because of which he is having such color.
In fact it is very unusual thing to have White Siberian Chipmunk among the population of Indian Palm Squirrels all of a sudden in wild. More over the mother squirrel looks like normal Indian Palm Squirrel which is in grey color with stripes at the back.
So I feel this is a mutant Indian Palm squirrel ! Thanks a lot for the efforts taken and I sincerely appreciate them! Stay blessed!
PS: I am posting a Picture of Indian Palm squirrel and the mother looks like this.
1 person likes this
