It is native to tropical western and central Africa where its range extends from Senegal in the west, through Nigeria and the Republic of Congo to Uganda and Tanzania in the east.

[3] The red-legged sun squirrel is found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Kenya in the east but not south of the Congo River.

[1] 21 subspecies are currently recognised:[5] The red-legged sun squirrel is diurnal and forages in the upper and middle storeys of large trees.

The diet consists primarily of fruits and seeds, but some green vegetation and arthropods are also eaten; much time is spent foraging along branches and probing into crevices for insects and their larvae.

Nesting takes place in holes in trunks and branches which are lined by twigs with their green leaves still attached.