Petaurista mishmiensis, Choudhury, 2009

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 : 772-773

146.

Mishmi Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista mishmiensis

French: Pétauriste des Mishmi / German: Mishmi-Riesengleithérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla voladora gigante de Mishmi

Taxonomy. Petaurista mishmiensis Choudhury, 2009 ,

“Alinye, NE of Anini, Dibang

Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh, India.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Mishmi Hills in the Upper Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 405-590 mm, tail 570-600 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Known from six whole and partial specimens.

Dorsum of the Mishmi Giant Flying Squirrel is deep chestnut to blackish chestnut color. Saddle of dorsum is very deep chestnut or almost black and grades to deep chestnut toward lower back and sides. Patagium is deep chestnut. Head is similar color to dark saddle area. Undersides are orange buff. Color grades from almost orangebrown laterally to more grayish buff medially on underside. Area near base oftail is lighter gray or whitish. Tail is blackish overall, but basal one-third is deep chestnut and grades to black distally. Feet are black.

Habitat. Midto high-elevation broadleaf and coniferous subtropical and temperate forests.

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 Mishmi Giant Flying Squirrel is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Not yet assessed on The IUCN Red List. No information is available on population trends of or threats to the Mishmi Giant Flying Squirrel. More surveys and basic research on its distribution, population status, and natural history are needed to better understand threats and useful conservation action.

Bibliography. Choudhury (2009a).

Figures

135. Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Buswamoyopterus biswasi), 136. Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel (Buswamoyopterus laoensis), 138. Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), 139. Chinese Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista xanthotis), 140. Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaunista alborufus), 141. Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis), 142. Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista caniceps), 143. Hodgson’sGiant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista magnificus), 144. Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaunrista mechukaensis), 145. Mebo Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista siangensis), 146. Mishmi Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista mishmiensis), 147. Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista nobilis)