Flying Squirrel

Flying Squirrel, nocturnal rodent that glides from higher to lower tree branches by means of a blanketlike membrane of furry skin stretched between its long forelegs and hindlegs. Flying squirrels have large eyes, dense soft fur, and long flattened tails, which are used to guide their parachutelike glides; the giant flying squirrel of Asian forests glides as far as 450 m (about 1500 ft).

The best known of the two North American species, the eastern flying squirrel, ranges from the Atlantic coast to the western plains. Measuring from 22 to 35 cm (9 to 14 in) long, it has gray fur and a white underside. A gregarious squirrel that nests in tree hollows, birdhouses, and buildings, it feeds at night on nuts, fruit, buds, and insects and rarely descends to the ground.

Approximately seven species of scaly-tailed flying squirrels inhabit Africa and are not considered true squirrels. They have membranes that attach at the elbow rather than at the wrist, but the animals look like true flying squirrels except for their shorter, tufted tails. The scaly underside of the tail is used for climbing and for gripping when the animals land after gliding.

Scientific classification: Flying squirrels make up the subfamily Petauristinae of the family Sciuridae. The eastern flying squirrel is classified as Glaucomys volans. The scaly-tailed flying squirrels of Africa belong to the family Anomaluridae.