Hylopetes spadiceus (Blyth, 1847)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Sciuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 648-837 : 764

125.

Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes spadiceus

French: Polatouche a joues rouges / German: Rotwangen-Gleithdrnchen / Spanish: Ardilla voladora de mejillas rojas

Taxonomy. Sciuropterus spadiceus Blyth, 1847 ,

“Arakan, Myanmar.”

Three subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

H.s.spadiceusBlyth,1847—SEMyanmar,SW&SEThailand,NW&CLaos,WCambodia(fromOddarMeancheytoKohKongprovinces),SVietnam(includingConSong),Thai-MalayPeninsula(includingKoTarutaoandKundurIs),andBangka.

H.s.everettiThomas,1895—BorneoandBunguranIinNatunaIs(offWBorneo).

H. s. sumatrae Sody, 1949 — Sumatra.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 135-184 mm,tail 102-166 mm; weight 70-157 g. The Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel is small and orange-brown on head and back, with black base coat showing through; cheeks are orange; throat is white. Ventral surface is white,

with gray underfur showing through and faint orange hue. Dorsal surfaces of gliding membranes are black, with thin white margins; tail is blackish, with distinctive orange brown or buff base. Feet are reddish brown; ventral surface is creamy white.

Habitat. Primary forests to degraded and cultivated forests in lowlands and foothills at elevations below 1500 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Red-cheeked Flying Squirrels nest in tree holes 0-3-3-3 m above the ground.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUNC Red List. Current population trend of the Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel is unknown. It is widespread and thought to be more common than records indicate, especially on Borneo. It occurs in number of protected areas. Deforestation and land conversion are occurring within the distribution of the Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel. Detailed surveys are needed to understand effects of habitat destruction on distribution and population trends of the Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel.

Bibliography. Ahl (1987), Chua et al. (2013), Corbet & Hill (1992), Duckworth & Hedges (2008c), Dunn et al. (1968), Jackson (2012), Jackson & Thorington (2012), Liat et al. (1977), Meijaard (2003), Rasmussen & Thorington (2008), Thorington & Hoffmann (2005), Thorington et al. (2012).

Figures

110. Kashmir Flying Squirrel (Eoglaucomys fimbriatus), 111. Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), 112. Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans), 113. Javanese Flying Squirrel (lomys horsfieldu), 114. Mentawai Flying Squirrel (lomys sipora), 115. Temminck’s Flying Squirrel (Petinomys setosus), 116. Travancore Flying Squirrel (Petinomys fuscocapillus), 117. Basilan Flying Squirrel (Petinomys crinitus), 118. Mindanao Flying Squirrel (Petinomys mindanensis), 119. Whiskered Flying Squirrel (Petinomys genibarbis), 120. Vordermann’s Flying Squirrel (Petinomys vordermanni), 121. Hagen’s Flying Squirrel (Petinomys hageni), 122. Siberut Flying Squirrel (Petinomys lugens), 123. Particolored Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger), 124. Indochinese Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes phayrei), 125. Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes spadiceus), 126. Palawan Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes nigripes), 127. Jentink’s Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes platyurus), 128. Sumatran Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes winston), 129. Sipora Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes sipora), 130. Gray-cheeked Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes sagitta), 131. Bartels’s Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes bartelsi), 132. Selangor Pygmy Flying Squirrel (Petawurillus kinlochii), 133. Hose’s Pygmy Flying Squirrel (Petaurillus hosei), 134. Lesser Pygmy Flying Squirrel (Petaurillus emiliae)

Subspecies and Distribution. H.s.spadiceusBlyth,1847—SEMyanmar,SW&SEThailand,NW&CLaos,WCambodia(fromOddarMeancheytoKohKongprovinces),SVietnam(includingConSong),Thai-MalayPeninsula(includingKoTarutaoandKundurIs),andBangka. H.s.everettiThomas,1895—BorneoandBunguranIinNatunaIs(offWBorneo). H. s. sumatrae Sody, 1949 — Sumatra.