Largest of the giant squirrels in India. The species has contrasting dorsal and ventral colours with the back, top of the head, ears, and tail being deep brown/brown with the ventral side being cream-coloured.

Broadly distributed in the Indo-Malayan realm (North-East India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia). Within India, their distribution is restricted to the states of Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura.

Found only in heavily forested areas with large stands of trees across different habitats. In India, the species is distributed between 0 to 2700m, and precipitation during the monsoon seems to drive the distribution of the species. Human settlements, timber harvest, and agriculture is leading to habitat fragmentation and is currently posing a threat to the conservation of this species.

The species is associated with forests and does not enter settlements and plantations. Diet includes seeds, pine cones, fruits, and leaves.