Red and white giant flying squirrel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Red and white giant flying squirrel
Petaurista alborufus lena in Taiwan
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Petaurista
Species:	P. alborufus
Binomial name
Petaurista alborufus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1870)
Range in red
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The red and white giant flying squirrel (Petaurista alborufus) is a type of rodent, which is a group of mammals that includes squirrels. It's a very large flying squirrel with dark reddish-brown, buff, and white fur. You can find it in forests in mainland China and Taiwan.

In China, it lives high up in the mountains, from about 800 to 3500 meters (2,600 to 11,500 feet) above sea level. In Taiwan, it lives even higher, from 1200 to 3750 meters (3,900 to 12,300 feet). The squirrels in Taiwan might even be a different species called the Taiwan giant flying squirrel. This squirrel is quite common, so experts say it is of "least concern" for now.

These squirrels sleep during the day, often in a tree hollow. They wake up at night to find food in the trees. They mostly eat nuts and fruits. They also munch on leaves, insects, and their larvae. Like other flying squirrels, they can glide between trees. They don't truly fly like a bat, but they can glide for long distances, sometimes up to 400 meters (1,300 feet)! They do this using a special skin flap called a patagium that stretches between their legs.

Where Do They Live?

The red and white giant flying squirrel lives mainly in mainland China and Taiwan. There are different types, or subspecies, of this squirrel found in various parts of China. For example, some live in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

It's not completely clear if these squirrels live in other countries like Myanmar or Bhutan. Some reports suggest they do, but it hasn't been fully confirmed.

The squirrels living in Taiwan are a bit special. They look different and their DNA shows they are more closely related to other giant flying squirrel species than to the ones in mainland China. Because of this, many scientists think the Taiwan squirrels should be considered their own species, the Taiwan giant flying squirrel (P. lena).

What Do They Look Like?

The red and white giant flying squirrel is one of the biggest flying squirrels around. Its body, from head to tail, can be 35 to 58 centimeters (14 to 23 inches) long. Its tail is even longer, measuring 43 to 61.5 centimeters (17 to 24 inches).

Squirrels from mainland China usually have dark reddish-brown fur on their backs. They often have a large buff or straw-colored patch on their lower back. Their throat and head are white, and they might have reddish patches around their eyes. Their undersides are orange-brown. Their feet can be blackish or reddish, and their tail often has a blackish or reddish end with a lighter ring near its base.

The squirrels from Taiwan look a bit different. They have a white head with little to no eye-ring. Their upper parts and tail are all dark reddish-brown, without the pale patch on the lower back or the ring on the tail. Their undersides are completely white.

How Do They Glide?

Flying squirrels glide using a special membrane called a patagium. This membrane is like a parachute and stretches between their front and back legs.

Before they jump, these squirrels bob their heads. This helps them figure out the best path to glide. Then, they leap into the air and spread out their patagium. They can control their speed and direction by making small adjustments with their wrists and ankles. Their flat tails also help them steer.

As they get close to their landing spot, they pull their bodies upright. They get their padded feet ready to absorb the landing shock. Their sharp claws help them grip the tree bark. Gliding is a very good way for them to travel through the forest. However, they can't change direction much once they are in the air.

Since they are active at night, flying squirrels avoid predators like hawks and eagles, which hunt during the day. But owls, which also hunt at night, can still be a danger to them.

There are 44 different kinds of flying squirrels in the world. Most of them live in Asia, which makes scientists think they first appeared there. Only two species are found in the Americas.

Conservation Status

The red and white giant flying squirrel lives in many places and has a large population. It is also found in many protected areas. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed it as a species of "least concern". This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.