Real flying squirrels
Real flying squirrels | ||||||||||||
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Japanese flying squirrel ( Pteromys momonga ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Pteromys | ||||||||||||
Cuvier , 1800 |
The real flying squirrels or Old World flying squirrels ( Pteromys , from Greek πτερο- ptero- 'wing' and μῦς mys 'mouse') are a type of flying squirrel . Only two species are included in this genus:
- European flying squirrel , Pteromys volans ( Linnaeus 1758 ), Northern Europe, Siberia , Korea , Sakhalin , Hokkaidō
- Japanese flying squirrel , Pteromys momonga ( Temminck 1844 ), Honshū , Kyushu
The designation as “real” or “European” flying squirrels is probably a bit unfortunate and has to be explained from a Eurocentric point of view, since the only species of flying squirrel occurring in Europe belongs to this genus. Both species are inhabitants of boreal coniferous forests .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web links
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