Bhutan giant flying squirrel

Bhutan giant flying squirrel

Gray's giant flying squirrel, Noble giant flying squirrel

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Petaurista nobilis

The Bhutan giant flying squirrel (Petaurista nobilis ), also known as the gray's giant flying squirrel or noble giant flying squirrel, is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. This species lives in Himalayan forests and it is one of the largest flying squirrels. Like other flying squirrels, it is mainly nocturnal and able to glide (not actually fly like a bat) long distances between trees by spreading out its patagium, skin between its limbs.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

The Bhutan giant flying squirrel has a narrow range in the Himalayas where restricted to central and eastern Nepal, Bhutan, and the Indian states of Sikkim, far northern West Bengal, and western and central Arunachal Pradesh. It might occur in Tibet in China, but this remains unconfirmed.

Bhutan giant flying squirrel habitat map

Biome

Bhutan giant flying squirrel habitat map
Bhutan giant flying squirrel
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Habits and Lifestyle

The natural habitats of the Bhutan giant flying squirrel are subtropical forests, temperate broadleaf forests, rhododendron forests and coniferous forests. Although mostly found between 1,500 and 3,000 m (4,900–9,800 ft) elevation, it has been recorded down to 800 m (2,600 ft).

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Little is known about the behavior of the Bhutan giant flying squirrel. It is mostly nocturnal like other flying squirrels, but the species has also been seen at dawn and dusk. The Bhutan giant flying squirrel appears to breed in March and April. Although it generally lives in trees, it has been seen feeding on the ground.

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Lifestyle

Diet and Nutrition

Population

Population number

The Bhutan giant flying squirrel is mainly threatened by habitat loss and degradation. To a lesser degree it is threatened by hunting for bushmeat and its pelt, and capture for the local pet trade. The IUCN recognises the species as near threatened, but almost qualifying for vulnerable. It occurs in several reserves.

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References

1. Bhutan giant flying squirrel Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan_giant_flying_squirrel
2. Bhutan giant flying squirrel on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16722/22271710

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