Black flying squirrels

Black flying squirrels
Black flying squirrel ( Aeromys tephromelas )
Systematics
Order : Rodents (Rodentia) Subordination : Squirrel relatives (Sciuromorpha) Family : Squirrel (Sciuridae) Subfamily : Tree squirrel and flying squirrel (Sciurinae) Tribe : Flying Squirrel (Pteromyini) Genre : Black flying squirrels
Scientific name
Aeromys
Robinson & Kloss , 1915

The black flying squirrels ( Aeromys ) are a genus of flying squirrels that is common in Southeast Asia. Two types have been described:

• Black flying squirrel , Aeromys tephromelas ( Günther , 1873 ), Malay Peninsula , Sumatra , Borneo
• Thomas flying squirrel , Aeromys thomasi ( Hose , 1900 ), Borneo

The species differ considerably in size: the black flying squirrel has a head body length of no more than 30 cm plus 30 cm tail. The Thomas flying squirrel measures 40 cm with a 50 cm tail. The fur is dark brown or black on top and gray-brown on the underside.

Black flying squirrels inhabit tropical rainforests. At night they are out and about in the treetops, looking for nuts, fruits and leaves.

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 .