Namdapha flying squirrel

Species of rodent

Namdapha flying squirrel
Holotype of the Namdapha flying squirrel, viewed from above and below
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Biswamoyopterus
Species:
B. biswasi
Binomial name
Biswamoyopterus biswasi
Saha, 1981[2]

The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is a flying squirrel endemic to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, where it is known from a single zoological specimen collected in Namdapha National Park in 1981.

Description

The Namdapha flying squirrel has reddish, grizzled fur with white above and a pale grey crown; its patagium is orangish and its underparts are white. Its cheek teeth are simple, and its incisors are unpigmented. Septae are multiple in auditory bullae and sometimes honeycomb-shaped with 10 to 12 cells in it. It measures 40.5 cm (15.9 in) from head-to-vent and has a 60 cm (24 in) long tail. The hindfoot is 7.8 cm (3.1 in), and the ear is 4.6 cm (1.8 in) long.[3][4]

Taxonomy

The Namdapha flying squirrel first described in 1981, based on a single zoological specimen collected in Namdapha National Park.[2] Its scientific name commemorates Biswamoy Biswas, director of the Zoological Survey of India.[3] It was the first member of the genus Biswamoyopterus; in 2013, the Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis) was described.[5] In 2018, a new flying squirrel, the Mount Gaoligong flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis) was discovered in China.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The Namdapha flying squirrel is endemic to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India.[1] It inhabits tall Mesua ferrea jungles, often on hill slopes in the drainage basin area of Dihing River, particularly on the western slope of Patkai range in northeastern India.[3][4]

In April 2022, a putative Namdapha flying squirrel was recorded in Arunachal Pradesh.[7] To prove its validity, the researchers are planning to collect fecal samples for identification of DNA.[8]

Status

The Namdapha flying squirrel is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its range may be restricted to a single valley, and it is threatened by poaching of animals for food within the park, and possibly by habitat destruction.[1] It is among the 25 "most wanted lost" species that are the focus of Re:wild's "Search for Lost Species" initiative.[9]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Biswamoyopterus biswasi.
  1. ^ a b c Molur, S. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Biswamoyopterus biswasi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T2816A115063959. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2816A22271554.en.
  2. ^ a b Thorington, R.W. Jr; Hoffman, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ a b c Saha, S. S. (1981). "A new genus and a new species of flying squirrel (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) from northeastern India" (PDF). Bulletin of the Zoological Survey of India. 4 (3): 331–336.
  4. ^ a b Saha, S. S. (1985). "Mammalia" (PDF). Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 82 (1–4): 321–330. doi:10.26515/rzsi/v82/i1-4/1984/161306. S2CID 251697069.
  5. ^ Sanamxay, D.; Douangboubpha, B.; Bumrungsri, S.; Xayavong, S.; Xayaphet, V.; Satasook, C.; Bates, P. J.J. (2013). "Rediscovery of Biswamoyopterus (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae: Pteromyini) in Asia, with the description of a new species from Lao PDR". Zootaxa. 3686 (4): 471–481. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3686.4.5. PMID 26473234. S2CID 1381787.
  6. ^ Gutoskey, E. (2019). "Humongous, chihuahua-sized species of flying squirrel has been discovered in China". www.mentalfloss.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. ^ Karmakar, R. (2023). "Missing for 42 years, flying squirrel resurfaces in Arunachal". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  8. ^ Daniel, E. (2023). "This flying squirrel is still lost to science, but maybe not for much longer". Re:wild. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  9. ^ "The Search for Lost Species". Global Wildlife Conservation. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Extant species of family Sciuridae (subfamily Sciurinae, Pteromyini (Flying squirrels) tribe)
Aeretes
  • Groove-toothed flying squirrel (Aeretes melanopterus)
Aeromys
(Large black flying squirrels)
  • Black flying squirrel (Aeromys tephromelas)
  • Thomas's flying squirrel (Aeromys thomasi)
Belomys
  • Hairy-footed flying squirrel (Belomys pearsonii)
Biswamoyopterus
  • Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
  • Mount Gaoligong flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis)
  • Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis)
Eoglaucomys
  • Kashmir flying squirrel (Eoglaucomys fimbriatus)
Eupetaurus
  • Western woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus)
  • Yunnan woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus nivamons)
  • Tibetan woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus tibetensis)
Glaucomys
(New World flying squirrels)
  • Humboldt's flying squirrel (Glaucomys oregonensis)
  • Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)
  • Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans)
Hylopetes
  • Particolored flying squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger)
  • Bartel's flying squirrel (Hylopetes bartelsi)
  • Hainan flying squirrel (Hylopetes electilis)
  • Palawan flying squirrel (Hylopetes nigripes)
  • Indochinese flying squirrel (Hylopetes phayrei)
  • Jentink's flying squirrel (Hylopetes platyurus)
  • Arrow flying squirrel (Hylopetes sagitta)
  • Sipora flying squirrel (Hylopetes sipora)
  • Red-cheeked flying squirrel (Hylopetes spadiceus)
  • Sumatran flying squirrel (Hylopetes winstoni)
Iomys
  • Javanese flying squirrel (Iomys horsfieldi)
  • Mentawi flying squirrel (Iomys sipora)
Petaurillus
(Pygmy flying squirrels)
  • Lesser pygmy flying squirrel (Petaurillus emiliae)
  • Hose's pygmy flying squirrel (Petaurillus hosei)
  • Selangor pygmy flying squirrel (Petaurillus kinlochii)
Petaurista
  • Red and white giant flying squirrel (Petaurista alborufus)
  • Spotted giant flying squirrel (Petaurista elegans)
  • Japanese giant flying squirrel (Petaurista leucogenys)
  • Hodgson's giant flying squirrel (Petaurista magnificus)
  • Mechuka giant flying squirrel (Petaurista mechukaensis)
  • Mishmi giant flying squirrel (Petaurista mishmiensis)
  • Bhutan giant flying squirrel (Petaurista nobilis)
  • Red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista)
  • Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis)
  • Mebo giant flying squirrel (Petaurista siangensis)
  • Chinese giant flying squirrel (Petaurista xanthotis)
Petinomys
  • Basilan flying squirrel (Petinomys crinitus)
  • Travancore flying squirrel (Petinomys fuscocapillus)
  • Whiskered flying squirrel (Petinomys genibarbis)
  • Hagen's flying squirrel (Petinomys hageni)
  • Siberut flying squirrel (Petinomys lugens)
  • Mindanao flying squirrel (Petinomys mindanensis)
  • Arrow flying squirrel (Petinomys sagitta)
  • Temminck's flying squirrel (Petinomys setosus)
  • Vordermann's flying squirrel (Petinomys vordermanni)
Pteromys
(Old World flying squirrels)
  • Japanese dwarf flying squirrel (Pteromys momonga)
  • Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans)
Pteromyscus
  • Smoky flying squirrel (Pteromyscus pulverulentus)
Trogopterus
  • Complex-toothed flying squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes)
Category
Taxon identifiers
Biswamoyopterus biswasi