Namdapha flying squirrel

General description• Scientific name - Biswamoyopterus

biswasi.• First collected in Deban (on 27 April

1981)• It is arboreal, nocturnal flying

squirrel.• Classified as Critically Endangered

(CR) on the IUCN Red List 2007 .

• The most distinctive feature - muscular membrane.

• The thick, soft pelage is red, grizzled with white, on the back, and white on the under parts.

Habitat• Occurs in a small area in the eastern

Himalayas, north-east India.• The Namdapha flying squirrel occurs

within Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh

• Usually found in dry, dark forest with tall trees.

• Squirrel inhabits temperate broadleaf forests.

• One specimen was found in a lofty tree, at 350 metres above sea level .

Behavior

• They live 6 years in the wild, and may live 15 years in captivity.

• Flying squirrels are nocturnal, because they can’t escape birds of prey that hunt during daylight.

• Squirrels live with their partner.• They protect their own family.

Enemys

• The Namdapha Flying Squirrel’s population is decreasing because it is so small and other animals use it as prey and feed on it.

• Most common enemies – owls, eagles, snakes, hawks, foxes, coyotes, wildcats and weasels.

Reproduction• The mating season is between

February to March.• Female squirrels live with young in

maternal nest sites, until they leave the nest.

• At birth, they are mostly hairless and most of their senses are not present.

• Males do not participate.

• The internal organs are visible through the skin.

• By week 5 of their life, they are almost fully furred and developed.

• After two and a half months , they are ready to leave their nest and are capable of independent survival.

Preying

• Flying squirrels are known to consume a largely vegetarian diet of nuts, seeds, fruits, flowers, bird eggs and occasionally fungi.

• Flying squirrels can easily forage for food in the night, given their highly developed sense of smell.

References• www.arkive.org/namdapha-flying-squirrel/

biswamoyopterus-bis• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_squirrel• http://www.enotes.com/topic/

Namdapha_flying_squirrel• http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/2816/0• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namdapha_flying_squirrel• http://bushwarriors.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/photo-

of-the-day-16-september-2011-me-so-sleepy-sleeping-squirrel-photo-by-kevin-jeffery/#more-18481

Thank you for your attention!