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Travancore flying squirrel

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(Redirected from Petinomys fuscocapillus) Species of rodent

Travancore flying squirrel
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Petinomys
Species: P. fuscocapillus
Binomial name
Petinomys fuscocapillus
(Jerdon, 1847)
Synonyms

Sciuropterus layardi Kelaart, 1850
Sciuropterus fuscocapillus Jerdon, 1847

Travancore flying squirrel (Petinomys fuscocapillus) is a flying squirrel found in Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of South India. 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.

Description

The head and body length is 32 cm, and the tail is 25–29 cm. Dorsally, this species is reddish brown, with ruddy-tinged grayish underparts. The tail is feather-shaped and reddish brown with a blackish undersurface. Their vibrissae are black. Like other members of this genus, the fur is soft, long and sheen.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies:

  • Petinomys fuscocapillus fuscocapillus (Jerdon, 1847) - Western Ghats of Peninsular India
  • Petinomys fuscocapillus layardi (Kelaart, 1850) - Sri Lanka.

Ecology

A rare, nocturnal mammal with a largely frugivorous diet, they are known to eat bark, shoots, and leaves, and sometimes insects.

References

  1. Kennerley, R. (2016). "Petinomys fuscocapillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16734A22241374. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16734A22241374.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Yapa, A.; Ratnavira, G. (2013). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. p. 1012. ISBN 978-955-8576-32-8.
Extant species of family Sciuridae (subfamily Sciurinae, Pteromyini (Flying squirrels) tribe)
Aeretes
Aeromys
(Large black flying squirrels)
Belomys
Biswamoyopterus
Eoglaucomys
Eupetaurus
Glaucomys
(New World flying squirrels)
Hylopetes
Iomys
Petaurillus
(Pygmy flying squirrels)
Petaurista
Petinomys
Pteromys
(Old World flying squirrels)
Pteromyscus
Trogopterus
Category
Taxon identifiers
Petinomys fuscocapillus
Sciuropterus fuscocapillus


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