These nocturnal creatures spend their days asleep in hollowed-out tree holes, coming out at night to hunt and forage in the trees. Though we are used to seeing squirrels running around during the day, flying squirrels are the complete opposite. All species of flying squirrels are nocturnal It’s also incredibly nimble, making quick twists with its limbs, a feathered tail that acts like a rudder, and patagia muscles, enabling it to complete entire an 180 turn in a single glide.ĥ. However, it can go considerably further, if necessary, with glides of up to 295 feet reported. According to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, the average glide of a northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinusis) is roughly 65 feet (20 meters). These flaps capture air when the squirrel falls, allowing it to push itself ahead rather than fall.Ĭartilage spurs at each wrist may be stretched out, expanding the patagia further than the squirrel’s small arms could on their own and ensuring that the patagia catch adequate air.įlying squirrels may go long distances in the air. The patagia are the furry, parachute-like membrane that connects a flying squirrel’s front and rear limbs. It then stretches its limbs to spread its patagia and begin gliding. When a flying squirrel wants to reach a tree that is out of reach, it just jumps out into the night. Instead of wings, flying squirrels have patagia Only three species are known to inhabit the Americas and only one is found in Europe. Forty of the known species are endemic to Asia, which means they can only be found there. 90% of flying squirrel species live in Asiaįlying squirrels can be found on three continents, however, their distribution is uneven. These environments may have rescued flying squirrels through glacial eras, but they were also a driving force in flying squirrel diversification. Asia has also played an important role in the history of flying squirrels, with vast forests providing both a sanctuary and a center of diversity. Flying Squirrels have been around for about 160 million yearsįlying squirrel relatives have been present throughout Asia for around 160 million years. The Namdapha flying squirrel, for example, is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to logging, hunting, severe weather, and geological events. However, some species are suffering from the effects of climate change and habitat loss. In many places flying squirrels are considered to be common rodents. Meanwhile, the Indian giant flying squirrel follows a more herbivorous diet, feeding on plant parts such as bark, flowers, buds, fruits, and seeds.īecause so many different species inhabit different parts of the globe, the conservation status varies. The south flying squirrel found in the Americas feeds on nuts, insects, fungi, and occasionally eggs. The gestation period is roughly 40 days, with an average of three to four young being born.įlying squirrels are considered omnivorous, though what they eat really depends on where they live. They also tend to have multiple partners instead of just choosing one. Some flying squirrels have one mating cycle per year, while others have two. Their mating cycles vary as much as their color. They have small faces with large ears and a fluffy tails that can match the length of their body. The fur color and markings vary by species, ranging from light gray and brown to deep red and even black. Omnivore (insects, nuts, fruit, eggs, fungi)įlying squirrels look very similar to their more grounded cousins, except for their patagia (the flaps of skin between their wrists and ankles) and large round eyes. North America, Central America, Eastern Asia Siberia, and Scandinavia. They make their homes in the trees of forests, finding their way into tree cavities and abandoned bird nests. They are known for gliding from tree to tree at heights of up to 500 feet with the help of their patagia-a furry membrane that runs from their wrists down to their ankles.įound throughout North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia flying squirrels come in many colors and sizes, some being up to two feet long. Flying squirrels make up a tribe of almost 50 species in the family Sciuridae.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |