Siberut flying squirrel
| Siberut flying squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Petinomys lugens | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1895) |
The Siberut flying squirrel ( Petinomys lugens ) is a flying squirrel from the genus of the dwarf flying squirrel ( Petinomys ). It occurs on the islands of Siberut , Sipora and Northern Pagai , which are part of the Mentawai Islands , off the coast of Sumatra , Indonesia .
features
The Siberut flying squirrel reaches a head-trunk length of about 25 to 26 centimeters and a tail length of about 21 to 23 centimeters. The weight is around 450 grams. The back and head color is monochrome smoky-brown-black. The tail is indistinctly two-colored. The animals have a small wart with three to four noticeable bristles on each cheek.
Like all dwarf gliding squirrels, it has a hairy skin 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 sliding skin is muscular and reinforced at the edge, it can be tensed and relaxed accordingly in order to control the direction of the gliding flight.
distribution
The Siberut flying squirrel occurs exclusively and therefore endemic to the islands of Siberut , Sipora and Northern Pagai , which belong to the Mentawai Islands , off the coast of Sumatra , Indonesia .
Way of life
The Siberut flying squirrel is found in the tropical primary forests of the Mentawai Islands. Almost no data or observations are available about the way of life of the flying squirrel. In its way of life it probably corresponds to other flying squirrels and is tree-living, largely nocturnal and it feeds on plants.
Systematics
The Siberut flying squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of the dwarf flying squirrel ( Petinomys ), which contains a total of nine species. The first scientific description comes from Oldfield Thomas from 1895 on the basis of an individual from the island of Sipora , Indonesia, which belongs to the Mentawai Islands . Originally the species was assigned to the Hagen flying squirrel ( Petinomys hageni ), but has recently been established as a separate species. No subspecies are distinguished within the species.
Existence, endangerment and protection
The Siberut flying squirrel is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as an endangered species. This status is justified with the very small distribution area, which is a maximum of 1,200 km 2 , as well as the strongly decreasing availability of suitable habitats . Classification as an endangered species is possible in the future, but insufficient data is available on populations and their decline, as well as on the extent of deforestation in local rainforest areas.
Loss of habitat due to the conversion of forests into agricultural areas and logging is considered to be the main source of risk. Protective measures for the preservation of the rainforests and especially of this type do not exist.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 125-126. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ a b c d e Petinomys lugens in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2014.1. Posted by: C. Francis, M. Gumal, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ↑ a b c Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Petinomys lugens 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. 125-126. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
Web links
- Petinomys lugens inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.1. Posted by: C. Francis, M. Gumal, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2014.