Flying squirrel

About: Flying squirrel is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 360 publications have been published within this topic receiving 5689 citations. The topic is also known as: flying squirrel.

Phylogenetic and morphological significance of an overlooked flying squirrel (Pteromyini, Rodentia) from the eastern Himalayas with the description of a new genus.

Abstract: The flying squirrels (Pteromyini, Rodentia) are the most diverse and widely distributed group of gliding mammals. Taxonomic boundaries and relationships within flying squirrels remain an area of active research in mammalogy. The discovery of new specimens of Pteromys ( Hylopetes) leonardi Thomas, 1921 previously considered a synonym of Hylopetes alboniger, in Yunnan Province, China allowed a morphological and genetic reassessment of the status of this taxon. Phylogenetic reconstruction was implemented using sequences of two mitochondrial (12S ribosomal DNA and 16S ribosomal DNA) and one nuclear (interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein) gene fragments. Morphological assessments involved examinations of features preserved on skins, skulls, and penises of museum specimens, supplemented with principal component analysis of craniometric data. Together these assessments revealed that this taxon should be recognized not only as a distinct species, and should also be placed within a new genus, described here as Priapomys.

Yushe Squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia)

Abstract: Squirrels (Sciuridae) have been rarely recognized among surface finds of Yushe Basin The sciurids described here are small samples of mainly isolated teeth recovered from the fossil deposits of Yushe Basin by screening in 1987 and 1988 with additions from 1991, but include six species from two subfamilies They are Tamias cf T ertemtensis (Qiu 1991), Sciurus sp, Sinotamias sp, Marmota sp of Sciurinae, and Pliopetaurista rugosa Qiu 1991 and Hylopetes yuncuensis sp nov (Pteromyinae) Among these squirrels, three taxa (Tamias cf T ertemtensis, Pliopetaurista rugosa, and Hylopetes yuncuensis) occur in more than one formation, with a temporal interval of 63 Ma to 34 Ma indicated by paleomagnetic stratigraphy Morphological comparisons with species related to the chipmunk and the flying squirrel indicate agreement with a geologic span of late Miocene to early Pliocene for the fossil-bearing beds The Yushe sciurid fauna is most similar in composition to those of Ertemte and Harr Obo of Inner Mongolia, strongly implying chronological similarity and biogeographical affiliation of these assemblages However, the Yushe fauna contains proportionally more arboreal sciurids than the two Inner Mongolian faunas, and lacks the ground squirrel genus Prospermophilus, which is considered indicative of semi-arid grassland and is abundant in the Inner Mongolian faunas This discrepancy highlights ecological distinctions between the Shanxi fauna and Inner Mongolian faunas, Yushe Basin being moister

Gross Morphology and Morphometrical Studies on the Vertebral Column of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis)

Abstract: The present study was conducted on the gross anatomical features of the vertebral column of Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis). It belongs to the order Rodentia and Sciuridae family. The bones of the vertebral column were collected during the post-mortem examination at Veterinary College, Shivamogga, Karnataka. The vertebral formula was found to be C7, T12, L7, S3, Cy27. The foramen transversarium was noticed in all the cervical vertebrae except in C7. The width and length of the centrum were progressively increased from L1 to L7. Haemal arch and haemal processes were observed in Cy4 to Cy9 and Cy10 to Cy19 respectively. The variations in the neural spine, vertebral body length, and transverse process were observed in all the vertebrae. So, these variations in the vertebral column may be attributed for the specialized movements such as gliding, lifting and balancing the body of Indian giant flying squirrel.