Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels: 1. They build nests by making burrows in the ground. 2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground. 3. They are omnivorous. How many of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Most common Indian squirrels, such as the Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus species) and the Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica), are arboreal. They build nests, known as dreys, in tree branches, hollows, or crevices using twigs and leaves, rather than making burrows in the ground.
Statement 2 is Correct: Many squirrel species exhibit "scatter hoarding" behavior. They store food materials like nuts and seeds by burying them in various shallow locations in the ground to retrieve them during times of food scarcity. This behavior is a key ecological process for seed dispersal.
Statement 3 is Correct: Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores. While their diet primarily consists of seeds, nuts, fruits, and fungi, they also consume insects, caterpillars, bird eggs, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or young birds.