Biology
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As the Namdapha flying squirrel has rarely been recorded, there is little information available regarding its biology or ecology, but it is likely to be similar to other flying squirrels. All flying squirrels are nocturnal, possibly because their movement is hindered when on trees by their gliding membrane, and thus the cover of darkness gives them extra protection from predatory birds-of-prey, from which they cannot easily run. However, the membrane does allow an effective escape from flightless tree predators. Launching themselves from a tree, flying squirrels descend in a long, smooth curves to the base of tree trunks, where they break by turning the body and tail upwards (3). Flying squirrels are known to consume a largely vegetarian diet of nuts, seeds, fruits and flowers and sap, and occasionally fungi, and usually bear one litter each year, containing, on average, one to six pups (3).
Conservation
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The Namdapha flying squirrel occurs within Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh (4). Despite the protection of this large area, it is still affected by human activities, such as those mentioned above. The Namdapha National Park contains not only the Critically Endangered Namdapha flying squirrel, but is also home to populations of other threatened species, including tigers (Panthera tigris), snow leopards (Uncia unicia) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). The effective protection of the Namdapha National Park is therefore incredibly important, but this is also an incredibly difficult aim to achieve. This is not only due to the park's inaccessibility, the lack of legal enforcement and shortage of well-trained and equipped personnel, but also due to the local people's dependence on the forest and the materials it provides. This means that any conservation measures require local people's participation to be successful (5).
Description
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The wonderfully peculiar Namdapha flying squirrel is the only species in the genus Biswamoyopterus (2). Like other flying squirrels, the most distinctive feature of this species is the furred, muscular membrane that extends along the sides of the body, from the front limbs to the hindlegs. This unique membrane acts as a parachute when the animal leaps from a tree, and once in the air, the squirrel can steer by moving its limbs and tail, and altering the tension in the membrane (3). The thick, soft pelage is red, grizzled with white, on the back, and white on the underparts. The fur covering the small hands and feet are darker. The Namdapha flying squirrel's bushy tail is pale smokey-grey at the base, turning wine red, then reddish-brown and finally clove brown at the tip. At the base of each ear are tufts of long hair (2).
Habitat
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The Namdapha flying squirrel inhabits temperate broadleaf forests (4). One specimen was found in a lofty tree, at 350 metres above sea level (2).
Range
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Occurs in a small area in the eastern Himalayas, north-east India (4)
Status
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Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Threats
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This little-known flying squirrel has a very restricted range, and is currently known from only one location (1). Like other restricted-range species, this makes it particularly vulnerable to any threats, which could rapidly affect all individuals in the population. The Namdapha flying squirrel is presently threatened by habitat loss and degradation (1), caused by clear-felling for human settlements, shifting agriculture, and the extraction of non-timber forest products, particularly the leaves of a rattan palm, Zalacca secunda, for use as a roofing material (5).
Namdapha flying squirrel
provided by wikipedia EN
The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, where it is known from a single specimen collected in Namdapha National Park in 1981.[1] No population estimate is available for B. biswasi, but the known habitat is tall Mesua ferrea jungles, often on hill slopes in the catchment area of Dihing River (particularly on the western slope of Patkai range) in northeastern India.[3][4]
It was the sole member in the genus Biswamoyopterus until the description of the Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis) in 2013.[5] In 2018, Quan Li from the Kunming Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a new squirrel in the same genus while studying specimens in their collection, called the Mount Gaoligong flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis), based on the region it was discovered in.[6]
Description
Biswamoyopterus biswasi has reddish, grizzled fur with white above. Its crown is pale grey, its patagium is orangish and its underparts are white.[3][4]
The cheek teeth of B. biswasi are simple, and its incisors are unpigmented. Septae are multiple in auditory bullae and sometimes honeycomb-shaped with 10 to 12 cells in it.[3][4]
It measures 40.5 cm (15.9 in) from head-to-vent and has a 60 cm (24 in) long tail. The hindfoot is 7.8 cm (3.1 in) and the ear is 4.6 cm (1.8 in).[3][4]
The scientific name commemorates Biswamoy Biswas, director of the Zoological Survey of India.[3]
Status
The Namdapha flying squirrel is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. It is known from a single specimen collected in 1981 in Namdapha National Park. Its range of the Namdapha flying squirrel may be restricted to a single valley and it is threatened by poaching of animals for food from within the park, and possibly by habitat destruction.[1] It is among the 25 "most wanted lost" species that are the focus of Global Wildlife Conservation's "Search for Lost Species" initiative.[7]
There are several later reports of sightings by tourists and local researches, but a review by scientists specialising in flying squirrels found that most—if not all—have been the result of confusion with other, more common species that occur in Namdapha National Park, especially the rather similar candidula red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista candidula).[8]
References
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^ a b c Molur, S. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Biswamoyopterus biswasi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T2816A115063959. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2816A22271554.en.
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^ Thorington, R.W., Jr.; Hoffman, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
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^ a b c d e Saha, S. S. (1981). "A new genus and a new species of flying squirrel (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) from northeastern India" (PDF). Bulletin of the Zoological Survey of India. 4 (3): 331–336.
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^ a b c d Saha, S. S. (1985). "Mammalia" (PDF). Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 82 (1–4): 321–330. doi:10.26515/rzsi/v82/i1-4/1984/161306. S2CID 251697069.
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^ Sanamxay, Daosavanh; Douangboubpha, Bounsavane; Bumrungsri, Sara; Xayavong, Sysouphanh; Xayaphet, Vilakhan; Satasook, Chutamas; Bates, Paul J.J. (2013). "Rediscovery of Biswamoyopterus (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae: Pteromyini) in Asia, with the description of a new species from Lao PDR". Zootaxa. 3686 (4): 471–481. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3686.4.5. PMID 26473234. S2CID 1381787.
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^ Gutoskey, Ellen (24 July 2019). "Humongous, chihuahua-sized species of flying squirrel has been discovered in China". www.mentalfloss.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
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^ "The Search for Lost Species". Global Wildlife Conservation. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
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^ Krishna, C. M.; Kumar, A. (2014). "Why the Red Giant Gliding Squirrel Petaurista petaurista is often mistaken for the Namdapha Gliding Squirrel Biswamoyopterus biswasi (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 6 (8): 6138–6141. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3727.6138-41.
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Namdapha flying squirrel: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, where it is known from a single specimen collected in Namdapha National Park in 1981. No population estimate is available for B. biswasi, but the known habitat is tall Mesua ferrea jungles, often on hill slopes in the catchment area of Dihing River (particularly on the western slope of Patkai range) in northeastern India.
It was the sole member in the genus Biswamoyopterus until the description of the Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis) in 2013. In 2018, Quan Li from the Kunming Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a new squirrel in the same genus while studying specimens in their collection, called the Mount Gaoligong flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus gaoligongensis), based on the region it was discovered in.
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