Flying squirrel
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The flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of squirrel (family Sciuridae). There are 36 species in this tribe, the largest of which is the Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus). The 2 species of the genus Glaucomys (Glaucomys sabrinus and Glaucomys volans) are native to North America, and it is these that are commonly meant when the name "flying squirrel" is used in English, although the term is frequently also used by Europeans to refer to the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans).
Flying squirrels do not fly in the same sense as birds or bats - they do not employ powered flight. Rather, they glide by means of two flaps of skin stretched from arms to legs: once they have launched themselves into the air, they have no means of forward propulsion. They are true gliders: that is, unlike a human-made sailplane, they do not use upcurrents in the air to soar, so they will lose height during a glide. However, they can steer themselves very adroitly while in a glide. They do not steer with their tails, as is commonly but erroneously reported. Steering is accomplished by adjusting tautness of the patagium and positioning of the forelegs. The tail acts as a stabilizer in flight, much like the tail of a kite, and as an adjunct aerofoil when "braking" prior to landing on a tree trunk.
Though their lifespan is only about five years in the wild, flying squirrels often live between 10 and 15 years in captivity. This difference in lifespan is due to these creatures being important prey animals. Predation mortality rates in sub-adults are very high. Predators include arboreal snakes, raccoons, nocturnal owls, marten, fisher, coyote and the domestic house cat.
Genera
- Aeretes, 1 species, the Groove-toothed Flying Squirrel (A. melanopterus), northeast China.
- Aeromys, 2 species, Thailand to Borneo.
- Belomys, 1 species, the Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel (B. pearsonii), southeast Asia.
- Biswamoyopterus, 1 species, the Namdapha flying squirrel, India.
- Eupetaurus, 1 species, the Woolly Flying Squirrel, Kashmir; rare.
- Glaucomys (American flying squirrels), 2 species, the Northern Flying Squirrel and the Southern Flying Squirrel, North America.
- Hylopetes, 7 species, southeast Asia.
- Iomys, 1 species, Horsfield's Flying Squirrel, Malaysia and Indonesia.
- Petaurillus (pygmy flying squirrels), 3 species, Borneo and Malaya.
- Petaurista (giant flying squirrels), 5 species, southeast Asia (including the Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel, the Red giant flying squirrel, and the giant flying-squirrel).
- Petinomys, 9 species, southeast Asia.
- Pteromys, 2 species, Finland to Japan (including the Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrel).
- Pteromyscus, 1 species, the Smoky Flying Squirrel, southern Thailand to Borneo.
- Trogopterus, 1 species, the Complex-toothed Flying Squirrel, China.
Popular culture reference
- The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show The Jet Age ace Rocket "Rocky" J. Squirrel
- Samurai Champloo A squirrel named Mo-mo inhabits main charater Fuu's clothing, and seems to be a little too smart.
See also
The following are sometimes confused with flying squirrels:- Colugos
- Petauridae - gliding possums
- Anomaluridae - scaly-tailed squirrels
External links
- [Flying squirrels of India's Western Ghats]
- [FlyingSquirrels.com], General information, images, video, and more.
- [Animal Diversity Web: Pteromyinae], classification
- [Flying Squirrel Central], a directory to over 150 sites
- [Squirrel Taxidermy]
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