Horsfield flying squirrel
| Horsfield flying squirrel | ||||||||||||
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Horsfield's flying squirrel of the subspecies Iomys h. davisoni after John Gerrard Keulemans , Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1886 |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Iomys horsfieldii | ||||||||||||
| ( Waterhouse , 1838) |
The Horsfield's flying squirrel ( Iomys horsfieldii ) is a flying squirrel from the genus Iomys . It occurs in Southeast Asia from the Malay Peninsula across several islands in Malaysia and Indonesia .
features
The Horsfield flying squirrel reaches a head-torso length of about 18 to 19 centimeters and a tail length of about 18 centimeters, the weight is about 160 to 210 grams. The subspecies differ mainly in color. The nominate form is Iomys h. horsfieldii red-brown on the back and yellowish-brown on the ventral side and has a yellowish-red color on the sides of the flight membrane and below the eye. Iomys h. davisoni is dark slate gray with reddish-brown-orange hair tips on the back, the edges of the flying skin and the belly are orange and the underside of the tail is dark brown. Iomys h. penangensis corresponds to Iomys h. davisoni , but is a little lighter on the back, legs and tail. Iomys h. thomsoni is mottled with dark smoke brown on the back with white hair tips, the belly is whitish to pale reddish. The eyes are surrounded by a black eye ring, from which a black line leads to the base of the whiskers.
Like all flying squirrels, it has a hairy flight membrane that connects the wrists and ankles and is enlarged by a fold of skin between the hind legs and the base of the tail. The flight membrane is muscular and reinforced at the edge, it can be tensed and relaxed accordingly in order to control the direction of gliding. Compared to other flying squirrels of comparable size, the Horsfield flying squirrel has a relatively short tail and, above all, very short legs.
distribution
The Horsfield flying squirrel is common in Southeast Asia from the Malay Peninsula to several islands in Malaysia and Indonesia. It lives on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java , the Malay islands of Penang and Pulau Tioman as well as Borneo , whereby the distribution area includes parts of the Malay and Indonesian area as well as Brunei Darussalam . The species is rarely or no longer found on the island of Singapore .
Way of life
Little data is available on the way of life of the Horsfield flying squirrel, despite its widespread use. The habitat includes numerous different habitats and ranges from shrubbery and forest edges to agricultural plantations and natural forests. It is particularly widespread in the plains below 1000 meters and away from dense forest areas.
Like other species of flying squirrel, it is arboreal and nocturnal, it lives in nests in tree hollows. It feeds mainly on fruits, more precise data on food composition and seasonal distribution are not available.
Systematics
The Horsfield flying squirrel is listed as an independent species within the genus Iomys , which contains the Mentawai flying squirrel ( Iomys sipora ) as a second species . The first scientific description comes from George Robert Waterhouse in 1838 using individuals from the island of Sumatra. The species was named after the British naturalist Thomas Walker Horsfield .
Four subspecies are distinguished within the species:
- Iomys horsfieldii horsfieldii occurs on Java and Sumatra
- Iomys horsfieldii davisoni lives on the Malay Peninsula and was also found in Singapore.
- Iomys horsfieldii penangensis lives mainly on Penang.
- Iomys horsfieldii thomsoni is common in Borneo.
Existence, endangerment and protection
The Horsfield flying squirrel is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as not endangered (least concern) due to its comparatively large distribution area. It is also very adaptable and can also be found in habitats that have been heavily modified by human activity; there are no potential sources of danger for the population. In some regions the animals are considered pests, especially in agricultural areas.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 106-107. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ a b c d Iomys horsfieldii in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.2. Posted by: K. Aplin, D. Lunde, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ A b Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Iomys horsfieldii in Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed).
literature
- Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 106-107. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
Web links
- Iomys horsfieldii inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.2. Posted by: K. Aplin, D. Lunde, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2014.