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Petaurista petaurista (Pallas, 1766)
| Family Name: | Sciuridae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Mammal) |
| Common Name: | Red Giant Flying Squirrel |
Name
Description
| Description | Upperparts dark red with black tips to ears, nose, feet and tail. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | This nocturnal forest dweller usually moves about in pairs, commuting between trees by gliding. It feeds on fruits, leaves and shoots and nests in holes on tall trees. |
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| Habitats | Forest, Terrestrial |
| Distribution | Although apparently common in Singapore in the earlier part of the century, the last known sightings were of an individual each in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in 1982, and at MacRitchie in 1986. The species occur in Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Indochina, through the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Java. |
| Nature Reserves | Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | The shrinking of its forest habitat. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Very little is known about this animal in Singapore. |
| Conservation Notes | Habitat protection, and stringent policing against poaching. |
Status
| Conservation Status | Indeterminate |
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| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Critically Endangered (CR) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2008. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Francis, C.M. 2008. A field guide to the mammals of South-east Asia. United Kingdom: New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. 392pp |
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