The back or dorsal region and head of this squirrel is grey or dark brown, and the underside is a pale grey, without a brown or orange tinge. The tail is uniformly brown or grey, and can darken gradually with or without a discrete black tail-tip.

It occurs in India (from the south to Maharashtra and Rajasthan), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

It occurs in deciduous forests, wet evergreen forests, disturbed forests, cardamom plantations, and small forest fragments.

It is known to feed on fruit, leaves, flowers, bark and lichen.

The species has a loud alarm call and a sharp chattering cry. It often calls monotonously through the night.