European flying squirrel
| European flying squirrel | ||||||||||||
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European flying squirrel ( Pteromys volans ) |
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| Pteromys volans | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The European flying squirrel ( Pteromys volans ) is a type of flying squirrel . It is also known as the "common" flying squirrel.
features
The European flying squirrel is slightly smaller than the squirrel , with a head-trunk length of 14 to 20 centimeters and a tail length of 9 to 14 centimeters, it is only about the size of a dormouse . Adult flying squirrels weigh between 90 and 170 grams. The fur is yellow-gray on the top and white on the underside. The tail is bushy and colored similarly to the fur on the back. The ears are short, they lack the characteristic tuft of hair that is characteristic of squirrels . Flying squirrels have large eyes adapted to their nocturnal life. A densely hairy flight membrane extends from the wrist to the ankle. However, this can hardly be seen in sitting animals.
distribution and habitat
The name "European flying squirrel" is inappropriate in that the majority of the distribution area is in Asia. The only European countries where flying squirrels live are Finland , Estonia , Latvia , Belarus, and Northern Russia . From here the distribution area extends over the Siberian taiga to Manchuria and Korea . It is also widespread on the islands of Sakhalin and Hokkaidō , but is being replaced by the Japanese flying squirrel on the other Japanese islands .
The animals are mainly found in mixed forests with birch, alder and various coniferous trees.
Way of life
The flight skin enables the animals to glide through the air for distances of up to 80 meters. It is stretched by a sword-shaped cartilage that extends from the wrist. Flying squirrels can use their tail and legs to control flight both up and down and horizontally. When landing, the flight membrane slows down the speed. They build a spherical nest of lichen and moss in tree hollows, in which they sleep during the day. Some of the nests are also found in nest boxes. The flying squirrel also uses goblins abandoned by the squirrel. At night, the flying squirrels go looking for food. Various leaves, flowers, berries, nuts, buds and seeds are on the menu. When food is scarce in winter (flying squirrels do not hibernate), they also make do with needles and bark. They also store food supplies in tree hollows.
After a gestation period of four weeks, the female gives birth to two to four young in the spring. You are initially blind and naked. The eyes only open after four weeks. At this point, the coat is also developed. The young leave the nest for the first time just two weeks later. They often stay with the mother for a few months, sometimes through the winter. Gliding squirrel females usually live alone in their 4 to 9 hectare territory. Other females are not tolerated in the area. The area of the male flying squirrel is up to 60 hectares in size and includes several areas of female animals. The territories of the male animals can overlap. Several males can share the same nest, especially in winter. Usually males and females only meet during the mating season (March to May). The worst enemies of the European flying squirrels are pine marten , sable and various types of owls .
People and flying squirrels
Especially in Russia, flying squirrels are hunted for their fur, which is sold under names such as “Molenda” or “Flying Dog”. Often the fur is colored and attached to clothing as a fur trim .
Hazard and protection
The population of the European flying squirrel is not endangered globally because it has a very large distribution area. Regionally, however, it is threatened in some places, for example in Finland and Estonia it is on the national red list and in Estonia it is the symbol of the Estonian Nature Conservation Fund. According to the latest census, there are around 140,000 female flying squirrels in Finland. The population has decreased dramatically over the past 20 years. Well over 90 percent of the European Union's flying squirrels live in Finland. The flying squirrel is considered to be extinct in Latvia.
The European flying squirrel is listed as a priority species by the European Union in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and is therefore considered to be a species of community interest that must be strictly protected, for whose preservation special protected areas must be designated by the member states.
literature
More detailed information on the ecology of the flying squirrel can be found in the following scientific publications (in English and Finnish):
- Ilpo K. Hanski: Home ranges and habitat use in the declining flying squirrel, Pteromys volans in managed forests. In: Wildlife Biology. Vol. 4, No. 1, 1998, ISSN 0909-6396 , pp. 33-46, online (PDF; 7.15 MB) .
- Ilpo K. Hanski, Paul C. Stevens, Petri Ihalempiä, Vesa Selonen: Home-range size, movements, and nest-site use in the Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans. In: Journal of Mammalogy . Vol. 81, 2000, pp. 798-809.
- Ilpo K. Hanski, M. Mönkkönen, P. Reunanen, P. Stevens: Ecology of the Eurasian Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans) in Finland. In: Ross Goldingay, John Schebe (Eds.): Biology of Gliding Mammals. Filander-Verlag, Fürth 2000, ISBN 3-930831-17-1 , pp. 67-86.
- Ilpo K. Hanski, H. Henttonen, U.-M. Liukko, M. Meriluoto, A. Mäkelä: Liito-oravan (Pteromys volans) biologia ja suojelu Suomessa (= Suomen Ympäristö. Vol. 459). Ympäristöministeriö, Helsinki 2001, ISBN 952-11-0862-2 .
- Antero Mäkelä: Liito-oravan (Pteromys volans L.) ravintokohteet eri vuodenaikoina ulosteanalyysin perusteella. In: Liito-orava Suomessa. Liito-oravatyöryhmä (= Maailman Luonnon Säätiön WWF Suomen Rahaston Raportteja. No. 8). Maailman luonnon säätiö - Suomen Rahasto, Helsinki 1996, ISBN 951-95924-6-6 , pp. 54-59.
- Antero Mäkelä: Liito-oravan (Pteromys volans L.) lisääntymisbiologiasta. In: Liito-orava Suomessa. Liito-oravatyöryhmä (= Maailman Luonnon Säätiön WWF Suomen Rahaston Raportteja. No. 8). Maailman luonnon säätiö - Suomen Rahasto, Helsinki 1996, ISBN 951-95924-6-6 , pp. 63-66.
- Sergej I. Ognev: Rodents (= Mammals of the USSR and Adjacent Countries. Vol. 4). Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, 1966.
- Pertti Rassi, A. Alanen, T. Kanerva, Ilpo Mannerkoski: Suomen lajien uhanalaisuus 2000. = The 2000 Red List of Finnish Species. Oyj, Helsinki 2001, ISBN 951-37-3594-X .
- Pertti Sulkava, Risto Sulkava: Liito-oravan ravinnosta ja ruokailutavoista Keski-Suomessa. In: Luonnon tutkija. Vol. 97, 1993, ISSN 0024-7383 , pp. 136-138.
Web links
- Pteromys volans in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008 Posted by: S. Shar u. a., 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2009.