Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Sciuridae Scientific name Petinomys fuscocapillus Higher classification Petinomys Order Rodent | |
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Similar Bhutan giant flying squirrel, Temminck's flying squirrel, Hose's pygmy flying squ, Thomas's flying squirrel, Hodgson's giant flying squirrel | ||
Travancore flying squirrel (Petinomys fuscocapillus), also known as the small flying squirrel, is a flying squirrel found in South India and Sri Lanka. Travancore flying squirrels were thought to be extinct but were rediscovered in 1989 after a gap of 100 years in Kerala. It was rediscovered in Sri Lanka after 78 years. The animals were reported only in wet and intermediate zones of the island, and had a few sightings in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Contents
Description
Head and body length is 32 cm. Tail is 25–29 cm. Dorsally reddish brown. Underparts grayish with a ruddy tinge. Tail is feather-shaped and reddish brown with a blackish undersurface. Membrane behind hind limb is small. Vibrissae is black. Dorsal fur is very soft, long and sheen.
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies, as;
Ecology
Rare, nocturnal mammal with frugivorous diet, they are known to eat bark, shoots, and leaves, and even insects also.