Namdapha flying squirrel
| Namdapha flying squirrel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Subfamily: | Sciurinae |
| Tribe: | Pteromyini |
| Genus: | Biswamoyopterus |
| Species: | B. biswasi |
| Binomial name | |
| Biswamoyopterus biswasi Saha, 1981[2] | |
The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to India. It was the sole member in the genus Biswamoyopterus until the description of the Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis) in 2013.[3] First collected in Deban (on 27 April 1981), no population estimates are available for B. biswasi, but the known habitat is tall Mesua ferrea jungles, often on hill slopes in the catchment area of Na Dihing river (particularly on the western slope of Patkai range) in North eastern India .[4][5]
Description
B. biswasi has reddish, grizzled fur with white above. Its crown is pale grey, its patagium is orangish and its underparts are white.[4][5]
The cheek teeth of B. biswasi are simple, and its incisors are unpigmented. Septae are multiple in auditory bullae and sometimes honeycomb-shaped with 10 to 12 cells in it.[4][5]
It measures 40.5 cm from head to vent and has 60 cm long tail. The hindfoot is 7.8 cm and the ear is 4.6 cm.[4][5]
The scientific name commemorates Biswamoy Biswas (1923–1994).
Threats
It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss.[1] In addition it is hunted for food, and skins/fur.
Confusions
The species is well confused to Red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista). As both P. petaurista and B. biswasi share similar habitat in Namdapha National Park, the confusion exists. http://www.threatenedtaxa.in/index.php/JoTT/article/view/1597.
References
- 1 2 Molur, S. (2008). Biswamoyopterus biswasi. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- ↑ Reference for taxonomic information from Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.) (2005). Mammal Species of the World - A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.).
- ↑ Sanamxay, Daosavanh; Douangboubpha, Bounsavane; Bumrungsri, Sara; Xayavong, Sysouphanh; Xayaphet, Vilakhan; Satasook, Chutamas; Bates, Paul J.J. (2013). "Rediscovery of Biswamoyopterus (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae: Pteromyini) in Asia, with the description of a new species from Lao PDR". Zootaxa (Magnolia Press) 3686 (4): 471–481. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3686.4.5. ISSN 1175-5334.
- 1 2 3 4 Saha, S. S. (1981). "A new Genus and a new species of flying squirrel (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) from northeastern India". Bull. Zool. Surv. India 4 (3): 331–336.
- 1 2 3 4 Saha, S. S. (1985). "Arunachal Pradesh: A Proposed Biosphere Reserve". Mammalia Rec. Zool. surv. India (Special Issue on Fauna of Namdapha 82 (1–4): 321–330.
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