Subfamily Sciurinae Scientific name Biswamoyopterus biswasi Higher classification Biswamoyopterus Order Rodent | Tribe Pteromyini Rank Species | |
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Genus BiswamoyopterusSaha, 1981 Similar Laotian giant flying squirrel, Bhutan giant flying squirrel, Iomys, Large black flying squirrel, Groove‑toothed flying squirrel | ||
The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to northeastern India, where it is known from a single specimen collected in Namdapha National Park in 1981. It was the sole member in the genus Biswamoyopterus until the description of the Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis) in 2013. 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.
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Description
B. biswasi has reddish, grizzled fur with white above. Its crown is pale grey, its patagium is orangish and its underparts are white.
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.
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.
The scientific name commemorates Biswamoy Biswas (1923–1994).
Status
This species is listed as "critically endangered. It is known from a single specimen collected in 1981 from the Namdapha National Park, though there were informal sightings in 2002. Its range may be restricted to a single valley and it is threatened by poaching of animals for food from within the park, and possibly by habitat destruction.
