Oriental giant squirrels are very large tree squirrels from the genus Ratufa in the subfamily Ratufinae. They are a distinctive element of the fauna of south and southeast Asia.
There are four living species of oriental giant squirrels:
- Cream-coloured giant squirrel, Ratufa affinis
- Black giant squirrel, Ratufa bicolor
- Indian giant squirrel, Ratufa indica
- Grizzled giant squirrel, Ratufa macroura
In prehistoric times this lineage was more widespread. For example, animals very similar to Ratufa and possibly belonging to this genus - at least belonging to the Ratufinae - were part of the early Langhian (Middle Miocene, some 16-15.2 million years ago) Hambach fauna of Germany.
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