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Namdapha flying squirrel

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Kingdom
  
Subfamily
  
Sciurinae

Scientific name
  
Biswamoyopterus biswasi

Higher classification
  
Biswamoyopterus

Order
  
Rodent

Family
  
Tribe
  
Pteromyini

Phylum
  
Rank
  
Species

Namdapha flying squirrel httpssmediacacheak0pinimgcomoriginalsa0

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.

Contents

Description

Namdapha flying squirrel Himalayanflyingsquirrel Biswamoyopterus biswasiNamdapha flying

B. biswasi has reddish, grizzled fur with white above. Its crown is pale grey, its patagium is orangish and its underparts are white.

Namdapha flying squirrel The Giant Indian Flying Squirrel is a critically endangered species

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.

Namdapha flying squirrel Red Flying Squirrel Kalyan Varma Photography

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

Namdapha flying squirrel Just About Everything The Namdapha Flying Squirrel

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.

Namdapha flying squirrel World Wildlife Fund

References

Namdapha flying squirrel Wikipedia