Petaurista caniceps (Gray, 1842)

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 : 771-772

142.

Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista caniceps

French: Pétauriste a téte grise / German: Graukopf-Riesengleithérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla voladora gigante de cabeza gris

Other common names: Gray-headed Flying Squirrel

Taxonomy. Sciuropterus caniceps Gray, 1842 ,

Nepal.

There is some question as to whether P. caniceps is a distinct species or is a sub- species of P. elegans, but recent evidence from cytochrome-b sequencing by Li Song and colleagues in 2013 suggests that itis a valid species. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.c.canicepsGray,1842—Nepal,Sikkim,NEIndia(NWestBengal,ArunachalPradesh,NAssam,andNagaland),Bhutan,andSETibet(=Xizang,China).

P.c.clarkeiThomas,1922—SChina(Sichuan,Guizhou,andYunnan,provinces)andNMyanmar.

P.c.gorkhaliLindsay,1929—NCNepal(GorkhaDistrict)andadjacentSTibet.

P.c. sybilla Thomas & Wroughton, 1916 — N Myanmar and adjacent S China (S Sichuan, Guizhou, and W Yunnan provinces) and NE India (S Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipurstates). There are also two undescribed forms that occur in Gansu, Shaanxi, and Hubei and in Hunan and Guangxi.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 300-370 mm, tail 360-400 mm; weight 0.8-1.5 kg. The Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrel has grayish to blackish or reddish brown dorsum, white throat with black chin, and whitish brown venter. Bases of ears are light brown or reddish, sides of feet are orange, and outsides of legs are redder. Red crescentshaped spot occurs above each eye. It differs from the Spotted Giant Flying Squirrel (P. elegans) by absence of dorsal spots. Available descriptions do not permit reliable differentiation of subspecies based on color.

Habitat. Montane oak-rhododendron (Quercus, Fagaceae, and Rhododendron, Ericaceae) and conifer forests at elevations of 2100-3600 m and temperate and alpine coniferous forests at 3000-3600 m. Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrels nest in tree cavities in rhododendrons and conifers, but they are also construct leaf nests from ferns.

Food and Feeding. Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrels feed on rhododendron leaves and buds and conifer cones.

Breeding. Litter sizes of Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrels likely have 1-2 young.

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

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Vocalizations of the Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrel are described as long cries.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under P. elegans caniceps). Current population trend of the Gray-headed Giant Flying Squirrel is stable. More surveys and basic research on its distribution, population status, and natural history are needed to better understand threats and useful conservation action. Habitat loss and fragmentation from large-scale logging could threaten Grayheaded Giant Flying Squirrels. Populations confined to small habitat fragments can potentially lead to decreased numbers and increased inbreeding.

Bibliography. Hoogstraal & Mitchell (1971), Jackson (2012), Jackson & Thorington (2012), Lewis (1971), Li Song et al. (2013), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Thorington et al. (2012).

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)