The red bush squirrel or red-bellied coast squirrel (Paraxerus palliatus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae, which is found in bush and forest along the eastern seaboard of Africa.

It is closely related to P. lucifer, P. vexillarius and P. (p.) vincenti.

[3] It is native to Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The southernmost subspecies, P. p. ornatus, is endemic to oNgoye Forest in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

[4] P. p. swynnertoni is endemic to Chirinda Forest in eastern Zimbabwe,[5] and P. (p.) vincenti at Mount Namuli is sometimes deemed a full species.