There's a squirrel along Pili Drive?!

That's exactly the question I blurted out while I was driving home tonight along the mainly deserted Pili Drive. The animal just appeared out of nowhere, and crossed the street to go to what I reckon is the corn field. But then again, are there squirrels in the Philippines, and particularly in the UPLB area? 

Could it be a raccoon? But the mystery jaywalker did not have the tell-tale banding patterns on its tail. Could it be a skunk? I hope not! Besides, both of these mammals are only found in the Americas, right? Right?! Apparently not... There is actually a species of skunk found in the Philippines (mainly in Palawan and in the neighboring islands), the Palawan Stink Badger (Mydaus marchei). It's unlikely to be found in the UPLB campus, unless someone caught it for zoology class and then the animal managed to escape.

There are a lot of squirrels, it turns out, in the Philippines, and I had absolutely no idea! There are six species in the Sundasciurus genus which includes the tree squirrels. Flying squirrels belong to two other genera,  Hylopetes and Petinomys, and then there's the pygmy squirrel (Exilisciurus sp.). Most of them are in Palawan and Mindanao, though, so fat chance for me seeing them at night in Los Banos.

Maybe it's just a tortoise-shell cat whose tail is all puffed up because it got spooked. I don't know... nevertheless, I was forced to brush up on Philippines fauna: yes, there are skunks and squirrels in the Philippines, Palawan mainly. But are they found in Los Banos as well?

Zoologists, help!

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