also: たいわんりす
noun
Taiwanese squirrel; Pallas's squirrel (Taiwan subspecies)
Refers specifically to Callosciurus erythraeus thaiwanensis, a subspecies of Pallas's squirrel native to Taiwan. In Japanese, the katakana name is the usual written form.
タイワンリスは台湾の固有亜種です。
The Taiwanese squirrel is an endemic subspecies of Taiwan.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the katakana form is strongly preferred.
From 台湾 (Taiwan) + 栗鼠 (risu, 'squirrel'), a straightforward compound naming the animal after its geographic origin.