Petaurista | |
---|---|
Bhutan giant flying squirrel (Petaurista nobilis) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Sciuridae |
Tribe: | Pteromyini |
Genus: | Petaurista Link, 1795 |
Type species | |
Sciurus petaurista |
Petaurista is a genus of rodent in the family Sciuridae.[1] They are large to very large flying squirrels found in forests and other wooded habitats in southern and eastern Asia.[2]
Like other flying squirrels, they are mostly nocturnal and able to glide (not actually fly like a bat) long distances between trees by spreading out their patagium, skin between their limbs. They feed primarily on plant material, but will also take small animals such as insects.[2]