The species C. finlaysoni, as presently understood, may be completely black or completely white, or the underparts may be white, red, or black. C. erythraeus is usually olivaceous above and a rich red brown or white below. The fur in this genus is not particularly soft, but it is fairly full. The tail is moderately full in some species but is inclined to be flat, as the hairs on the underside are short. Externally, these squirrels often are indistinguishable from Sciurus and Ratufa, except that most of them are more brilliantly colored than Sciurus and smaller than Ratufa.
Females have four or six mammae.
These squirrels inhabit lowland and montane forests, cultivated areas, and gardens. They are diurnal and mainly arboreal. They live in hollow trees or construct nests of leaves and twigs in the branches of trees or large bushes. Food includes fruits, nuts, seeds, buds, flowers, other vegetable matter, insects, and birds' eggs. Ranges overlapped, but to a greater extent for males.