Furrow-tooth flying squirrel

Furrow-tooth flying squirrel
	Furrow-tooth flying squirrel ( Aeretes melanopterus )
Systematics
Subordination :	Squirrel relatives (Sciuromorpha)
Family :	Squirrel (Sciuridae)
Subfamily :	Tree squirrel and flying squirrel (Sciurinae)
Tribe :	Flying Squirrel (Pteromyini)
Genre :	Aeretes
Type :	Furrow-tooth flying squirrel
Scientific name of the genus
	Aeretes
	GM Allen , 1940
Scientific name of the species
	Aeretes melanopterus
	( Milne Edwards , 1867)

The furrow -tooth or split-tooth flying squirrel ( Aeretes melanopterus ) is a sliding squirrel that is endemic to China . It is named after the vertical furrow in the upper incisors, a unique feature among flying squirrels. Apart from that, the furrow-tooth flying squirrel has no noticeable features that make it different from other flying squirrels.

features

With a head-torso length of 27.5 to 35.5 centimeters and an equally long tail (27.5 to 36.2 centimeters), the furrow-tooth flying squirrel is a medium-sized species. The rear foot length is 47 to 63 millimeters, the length of the ears 21 to 40 millimeters. In its appearance it does not differ significantly from other flying squirrels and, like them, has a flight membrane, which in the case of this species is colored black at the edge. The long and loose fur is sandy-brown to grayish on the top, yellowish on the flanks and gray-beige to whitish on the underside, and the throat and face are white-gray. The tail is brown and has no black tip, the feet are black.

The skull has a base length of 61 to 66 millimeters.

distribution

The furrow-tooth flying squirrel is endemic to the People's Republic of China . The furrow-tooth flying squirrel lives in two isolated and widely separated areas of distribution: Aeretes melanopterus melanopterus in the north in the province of Hebei and Aeretes melanopterus szechuanensis in the border area between Sichuan and Gansu .

Way of life

Very little data is available on the species' way of life. The furrow-tooth flying squirrel lives exclusively in the mountain forests of its distribution area in central China at altitudes below 3000 meters.

Systematics

The furrow-tooth flying squirrel is classified as an independent species and as a monotypical genus Aeretes . The first scientific description comes from Henri Milne Edwards from 1867, who described an individual from the mountains of the former Chinese province of Zhili , now Hebei .

In addition to the nominate form Aeretes melanopterus melanopterus , another subspecies is recognized with Aeretes melanopterus szechuanensis .

Status, threat and protection

The furrow-tooth flying squirrel is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as a type of warning list ("near threatened") due to the decline in stocks. A decline in populations of around 30% over the next few years is assumed, which is primarily due to the transformation of the habitat through the clearing of forests. In China, the species is classified as threatened accordingly.

Protective measures are currently not available for this species and its occurrence in protected areas is unclear.

literature

Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Northern Chinese Flying Squirrel. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 174.
Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 85-86. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
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

Aeretes melanopterus inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: Smith, AT & Johnston, CH, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2014.

supporting documents

^ ^A ^b ^c Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Northern Chinese Flying Squirrel. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 174.

^ Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 85-86. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1

↑ ^a ^b ^c Aeretes melanopterus In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Aeretes melanopterus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.2. Listed by: Smith, AT & Johnston, CH, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2014.

[Smith_&_Yan_Xie_2009-1] A ^b ^c Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Northern Chinese Flying Squirrel. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 174.

[Thorington_et_al._2012-2] Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 85-86. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1

[Wilson_&_Reeder_2005-3] Aeretes melanopterus In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .