Japanese giant flying squirrel

Japanese giant flying squirrel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Subfamily: Pteromyinae
Genus: Petaurista
Species: P. leucogenys
Binomial name
Petaurista leucogenys
Temminck, 1827

The Japanese giant flying squirrel (ムササビ musasabi, Petaurista leucogenys) is a species of flying squirrel, one of two species of Old World flying squirrels. It is native to Japan where is inhabits sub-alpine forests and boreal evergreen forests on Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu islands. It grows to a head-and-body length of 50 cm (20 in) with a tail nearly as long again, and has a membrane connecting its wrists and ankles which enables it to glide from tree to tree. It feeds mainly on fruits and seeds. It breeds once a year in the autumn, with one or two young being born in its den. This squirrel faces no particular threats, has a wide range and is relatively common, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as being of "least concern".

Distribution

The squirrel is endemic to the islands of Honshū, Kyūshū and Shikoku in Japan and in Guangzhou in China.

Ecology

Like other flying squirrels it has a web of skin between its legs which it uses to glide between trees. Glides of 160 metres have been recorded. The tail is used for stability during flight. The body is about 2550 cm long, and the tail a further 3040 cm. It weighs between 700 and 1500g. It is much larger than the related Japanese dwarf flying squirrel which does not exceed 220g. It eats fruit and nuts and lives in holes in large trees. The female has a home range of about a hectare and the male about two hectares.

Sexual maturity is reached after about two years. From winter to early summer the males compete for females. During mating, after ejaculation, the male produces a sticky protein called a coitus plug from his penis which becomes firm and blocks the female's vagina. This may stop semen from leaking out and heighten the chances of fertilization. It also prevents other males from mating with the same female. However males can use their penis to remove the coitus plug. Gestation lasts about 75 days and one or two young are born in early autumn.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Petaurista leucogenys.
Wikispecies has information related to: Petaurista leucogenys
  1. Ishii, N. & Kaneko, Y. (2008). "Petaurista leucogenys". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
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