Red giant flying squirrel

species of mammal

The red giant flying squirrel is a species of flying squirrel. This squirrel faces no particular threats apart from habitat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a "least-concern species". The tail is long 42cm and provides stability when it glides between trees. It is a dark red color. The squirrel is found in South Asia, southern China and Southeast Asia, northern India and Pakistan, Java, and Taiwan. It eats fruits and nuts, and occasionally insects.

Red giant flying squirrel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Petaurista
Species:
P. petaurista
Binomial name
Petaurista petaurista
(Pallas, 1766)


Female giant red flying squirrels gives birth to 2-3 pups at a time. The pups are weaned at age 2.5 months, Females usually breed once a year.

This squirrel faces no particular threats apart from ongoing destruction of suitable habitat. However, the squirrel has been hunted for a long time in Japan

References change

  1. Walston, J.; Duckworth, J. W.; Sarkur, S. U.; Molur, S. (2008). "Petaurista petaurista". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 6 January 2009.