Prevost's squirrel, also known as the Tri-colored squirrel, is one of the most colorful of all squirrels. The back and tail are glossy black, the belly and legs a bright chestnut red. A white band extends along their sides from the nose to the base of the tail.
All squirrels have sharp eyesight.
Their teeth consist of a single pair of chisel-shaped incisor teeth in each jaw and a large gap in front of the premolars, due to the absence of canine teeth. The incisors grow continuously and are worn back by use. The lower jaw is quite movable. Squirrels have short forelimbs, with a small thumb, and longer hind limbs. The soles of the feet have soft pads.