The Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis), also called the large brown flying squirrel or the common giant flying squirrel, is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is capable of gliding flight using a skin membrane stretched between front and hind legs. It is found in mainland Southeast and South Asia, and southern and central China.
In a Ficus racemosa, in Polo Forest, Sabarkantha, Gujarat, India
This is a large species, with a head and body length of about 43 cm and a tail of 50–52 cm. It has black to gray-brown fur, long and soft on the upper parts and somewhat shorter underneath the body, with a grizzled appearance. A wing membrane between the forelimb and hindlimb, paler coloured underneath, allows gliding between trees. The tail is hairy and blackish to gray-brown, the feet are black, and the nose is pale pink with black vibrissae.[2]
Taxonomyedit
Its taxonomy is very complex and not fully resolved. Up until the 1980s, some authorities even listed the Indian giant flying squirrel itself as a subspecies of the red giant flying squirrel (P. petaurista).[3] In 2005, Mammal Species of the World included grandis, yunanensis, hainana, nigra, rubicundus and rufipes (last four as synonyms of yunanensis) in the Indian giant flying squirrel.[4] Later studies have confirmed that all these are distinct and not closely related to the Indian giant flying squirrel; placing them together would result in a strongly polyphyletic "species".[5][6][7][8] As a consequence, recent authorities have generally recognized them as part of the red giant flying squirrel or as their own species; the Formosan giant flying squirrel (P. grandis) of Taiwan, Hainan giant flying squirrel (P. hainana) of Hainan, and Yunnan giant flying squirrel (P. yunanensis) in northeastern India, south-central China, Myanmar, northern Laos and northern Vietnam (the extent of its range in the last three countries is labelled with considerable uncertainty).[3][9][10] The Formosan and Hainan giant flying squirrels have fully separate ranges, but the Yunnan giant flying squirrel is sympatric with the Indian giant flying squirrel.[6][9]
The species is native to China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. It inhabits dry deciduous and evergreen forest, usually at higher elevations from 500–2,000 m (1,600–6,600 ft) and has been recorded on plantations.[1]
Ecologyedit
The Indian giant flying squirrel is nocturnal and arboreal, spending most of its life in the canopy. Nests are made in tree hollows lined with bark, fur, moss, and leaves. The species is sociable when food is abundant, but intraspecies attacks increase with food scarcity. Vocalizations are similar to those of the spot-bellied eagle-owl.[2]
Dietedit
The species is mainly frugivorous, preferring the fruits of Ficus racemosa, followed by Cullenia and Artocarpus heterophyllus. It also takes bark, tree resins, shoots, leaves (particularly of F. racemosa), insects, and larvae. Squirrels were shown to be somewhat tolerant of disturbance when foraging, and to exploit food resources at the forest edge, including exotic planted species.[11]
Reproductionedit
Female gives birth to a single offspring during mid June. Pups born blind, with a head that is disproportionately large when compared with the body.[2]
^ abWalston, J.; Duckworth, J.W.; Molur, S. (2020) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Petaurista philippensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16724A184098981. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16724A184098981.en.
^ abcYapa, A.; Ratnavira, G. (2013). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. p. 1012. ISBN978-955-8576-32-8.
^ abJackson, S.M.; R.W. Thorington Jr. (2012). "Gliding Mammals – Taxonomy of Living and Extinct Species". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 638 (638): 1–117. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.638.1.
^Thorington, R.W. Jr; Hoffman, R.S. (2005). "Species Petaurista philippensis". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^Oshida, T.; C.M. Shafique; S. Barkati; Y. Fujita; L.-K. Lin; R. Masuda (2004). "A Preliminary Study on Molecular Phylogeny of Giant Flying Squirrels, Genus Petaurista (Rodentia, Sciuraidae) Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Sequences". Russian Journal Theriology. 3 (1): 15–24. doi:10.15298/rusjtheriol.03.1.04.
^ abYu, F.R.; F.H. Yu; J.F. Peng; C.W. Kilpatrick; P.M. McGuire; Y.X. Wang; S.Q. Lu; C.A. Woods (2006). "Phylogeny and biogeography of the Petaurista philippensis complex (Rodentia: Sciuridae), inter- and intraspecific relationships inferred from molecular and morphometric analysis". Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 38 (3): 755–766. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.002. PMID 16414285.
^Oshida, T.; et al. (2010). "Phylogenetics of Petaurista in light of specimens collected from northern Vietnam". Mammal Study. 35: 85–91. doi:10.3106/041.035.0107. S2CID 85670447.
^Li, S.; K. He; F.-H. Yu; Q.-S. Yang (2013). "Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of Petaurista Inferred from the Cytochrome b Gene, with Implications for the Taxonomic Status of P. caniceps, P. marica and P. sybilla". PLOS ONE. 8 (7): e70461. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...870461L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070461. PMC3724786. PMID 23922995.
^ abJackson, S.M. (2012). Gliding Mammals of the World. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 112–135. ISBN9780643092600.
^Francis, C.M. (2019). A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia (2 ed.). New Holland Publishers. pp. 164–165, 362–363. ISBN978-1-4729-3497-0.
^Nandini, R.; Parthasarathy, N. (2008). "Food habits of the Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) in a rain forest fragment, Western Ghats". Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (6): 1550–1556. doi:10.1644/08-mamm-a-063.1.
Further readingedit
Koli, VK.; Bhatnagar, C; Mali, D. (2011). "Gliding behaviour of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis Elliot" (PDF). Current Science. 100 (10): 1563–1568.
Nandini, R.; Parthasarathy, N. (2008). "Food habits of the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) in rain forest fragment, Western Ghats". J. Mammal. 89 (6): 1550–1556. doi:10.1644/08-mamm-a-063.1.
Koli, VK.; Bhatnagar, C; Sharma, S.K. (2013). "Distribution and status of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis Elliot) in Rajasthan, India". Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 36 (1): 27–33. doi:10.1007/s40009-012-0105-z. S2CID 86161494.
October 27, 2023
indian, giant, flying, squirrel, petaurista, philippensis, also, called, large, brown, flying, squirrel, common, giant, flying, squirrel, species, rodent, family, sciuridae, capable, gliding, flight, using, skin, membrane, stretched, between, front, hind, legs. The Indian giant flying squirrel Petaurista philippensis also called the large brown flying squirrel or the common giant flying squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae It is capable of gliding flight using a skin membrane stretched between front and hind legs It is found in mainland Southeast and South Asia and southern and central China Indian giant flying squirrelConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily SciuridaeGenus PetauristaSpecies P philippensisBinomial namePetaurista philippensis Elliot 1839 Range in red as reported by the IUCN but see text Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Distribution habitat and taxonomy 4 Ecology 5 Diet 6 Reproduction 7 See also 8 References 9 Further readingDescription edit nbsp In a Ficus racemosa in Polo Forest Sabarkantha Gujarat IndiaThis is a large species with a head and body length of about 43 cm and a tail of 50 52 cm It has black to gray brown fur long and soft on the upper parts and somewhat shorter underneath the body with a grizzled appearance A wing membrane between the forelimb and hindlimb paler coloured underneath allows gliding between trees The tail is hairy and blackish to gray brown the feet are black and the nose is pale pink with black vibrissae 2 Taxonomy editIts taxonomy is very complex and not fully resolved Up until the 1980s some authorities even listed the Indian giant flying squirrel itself as a subspecies of the red giant flying squirrel P petaurista 3 In 2005 Mammal Species of the World included grandis yunanensis hainana nigra rubicundus and rufipes last four as synonyms of yunanensis in the Indian giant flying squirrel 4 Later studies have confirmed that all these are distinct and not closely related to the Indian giant flying squirrel placing them together would result in a strongly polyphyletic species 5 6 7 8 As a consequence recent authorities have generally recognized them as part of the red giant flying squirrel or as their own species the Formosan giant flying squirrel P grandis of Taiwan Hainan giant flying squirrel P hainana of Hainan and Yunnan giant flying squirrel P yunanensis in northeastern India south central China Myanmar northern Laos and northern Vietnam the extent of its range in the last three countries is labelled with considerable uncertainty 3 9 10 The Formosan and Hainan giant flying squirrels have fully separate ranges but the Yunnan giant flying squirrel is sympatric with the Indian giant flying squirrel 6 9 Distribution habitat and taxonomy edit nbsp In the Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary Dahod Central Gujarat IndiaThe species is native to China India Laos Myanmar Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand and Vietnam It inhabits dry deciduous and evergreen forest usually at higher elevations from 500 2 000 m 1 600 6 600 ft and has been recorded on plantations 1 Ecology editThe Indian giant flying squirrel is nocturnal and arboreal spending most of its life in the canopy Nests are made in tree hollows lined with bark fur moss and leaves The species is sociable when food is abundant but intraspecies attacks increase with food scarcity Vocalizations are similar to those of the spot bellied eagle owl 2 Diet editThe species is mainly frugivorous preferring the fruits of Ficus racemosa followed by Cullenia and Artocarpus heterophyllus It also takes bark tree resins shoots leaves particularly of F racemosa insects and larvae Squirrels were shown to be somewhat tolerant of disturbance when foraging and to exploit food resources at the forest edge including exotic planted species 11 Reproduction editFemale gives birth to a single offspring during mid June Pups born blind with a head that is disproportionately large when compared with the body 2 See also editIndian giant squirrelReferences edit a b Walston J Duckworth J W Molur S 2020 errata version of 2016 assessment Petaurista philippensis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T16724A184098981 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T16724A184098981 en a b c Yapa A Ratnavira G 2013 Mammals of Sri Lanka Colombo Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka p 1012 ISBN 978 955 8576 32 8 a b Jackson S M R W Thorington Jr 2012 Gliding Mammals Taxonomy of Living and Extinct Species Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 638 638 1 117 doi 10 5479 si 00810282 638 1 Thorington R W Jr Hoffman R S 2005 Species Petaurista philippensis In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press pp 754 818 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Oshida T C M Shafique S Barkati Y Fujita L K Lin R Masuda 2004 A Preliminary Study on Molecular Phylogeny of Giant Flying Squirrels Genus Petaurista Rodentia Sciuraidae Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Sequences Russian Journal Theriology 3 1 15 24 doi 10 15298 rusjtheriol 03 1 04 a b Yu F R F H Yu J F Peng C W Kilpatrick P M McGuire Y X Wang S Q Lu C A Woods 2006 Phylogeny and biogeography of the Petaurista philippensis complex Rodentia Sciuridae inter and intraspecific relationships inferred from molecular and morphometric analysis Mol Phylogenet Evol 38 3 755 766 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2005 12 002 PMID 16414285 Oshida T et al 2010 Phylogenetics of Petaurista in light of specimens collected from northern Vietnam Mammal Study 35 85 91 doi 10 3106 041 035 0107 S2CID 85670447 Li S K He F H Yu Q S Yang 2013 Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of Petaurista Inferred from the Cytochrome b Gene with Implications for the Taxonomic Status of P caniceps P marica and P sybilla PLOS ONE 8 7 e70461 Bibcode 2013PLoSO 870461L doi 10 1371 journal pone 0070461 PMC 3724786 PMID 23922995 a b Jackson S M 2012 Gliding Mammals of the World CSIRO Publishing pp 112 135 ISBN 9780643092600 Francis C M 2019 A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia 2 ed New Holland Publishers pp 164 165 362 363 ISBN 978 1 4729 3497 0 Nandini R Parthasarathy N 2008 Food habits of the Indian giant flying squirrel Petaurista philippensis in a rain forest fragment Western Ghats Journal of Mammalogy 89 6 1550 1556 doi 10 1644 08 mamm a 063 1 Further reading editKoli VK Bhatnagar C Mali D 2011 Gliding behaviour of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis Elliot PDF Current Science 100 10 1563 1568 Nandini R Parthasarathy N 2008 Food habits of the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis in rain forest fragment Western Ghats J Mammal 89 6 1550 1556 doi 10 1644 08 mamm a 063 1 Koli VK Bhatnagar C Sharma S K 2013 Distribution and status of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis Elliot in Rajasthan India Natl Acad Sci Lett 36 1 27 33 doi 10 1007 s40009 012 0105 z S2CID 86161494 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Indian giant flying squirrel amp oldid 1141095494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
