In the late 19th century, the palm squirrel was introduced to Madagascar, Réunion, Mayotte, Comoro Islands, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

The closely related five-striped palm squirrel, F. pennantii, is found in northern India, and its range partly overlaps with this species.

The palm squirrel is about the size of a large chipmunk, with a bushy tail slightly shorter than its body.

The back is a grizzled, grey-brown colour with three conspicuous white stripes which run from head to tail.

[4] The Indian palm squirrel is a solitary animal, spending a majority of its life without interaction with others their own species, with the exception of mating and child rearing.

While nuts and fruits make up a majority of its diet, the Indian palm squirrel will also eat insects, other smaller mammals, and reptiles.