Appearance
Head and body length is usually 43 cm. Tail is 50 cm in male and 52 cm in female.Black to gray brown in color and appears grizzled. A membrane in between the forelimb and hindlimb is developed for gliding through trees. Wing membrane is paler gray beneath. Tail hairy and blackish to gray brown. Feet is black. Nose is pale pink. Vibrissae black. Fur long and soft in upperparts, with gradually reduce through to the underparts.
Distribution
It is native to China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.Habitat
Nocturnal and arboreal squirrel, occurs in dry deciduous and evergreen forests, usually at higher elevations from 500m-2000m. In addition to natural forests, the animal is recorded from plantations. It is found to occupy tree canopies and holes.These squirrels roost in tree hollows lined with bark, fur, moss, and leaves. They are known to be sociable when food is abundant in the surroundings; intraspecies attacks increase with food scarcity. The vocals of this squirrel is known to be similar to that of the Spot-bellied eagle-owl.
Reproduction
Female gives birth to a single offspring during mid June. Offspring born blind and much lengthier than other mammalian offspring, where the head is disproportionately large when compared with the body.Food
Mainly frugivorous, they also eat bark, tree resins, shoots, leaves, insects, and larvae. According to research, they are known to be fond of ''Ficus racemosa'', followed by ''Cullenia'' and ''Artocarpus heterophyllus''. Leaves formed an important component of the diet and the leaves of ''F. racemosa'' were consumed more than those of any other species. Flying squirrels proved to be tolerant of disturbance and exploited food resources at the fragment edge, including exotic planted species.References:
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