# Flying Squirrel (*Pteromyini*) Flying squirrels are special squirrels that can glide through the air using flaps of skin between their legs. They are expert nighttime acrobats, soaring from tree to tree in search of food. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Flying Squirrel](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426719/objects/6093.jpg) ## Appearance The Flying Squirrel has soft, dense fur that is typically grey-brown on its back and white on its belly. Its most distinctive feature is a furry membrane, called a patagium, stretching from its wrists to its ankles, allowing it to glide. It also possesses large, dark eyes adapted for low-light conditions. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae ## Flying squirrel, up close Flying squirrels (tribe Pteromyini) are about 50 species of night-active squirrels that glide from tree to tree on a furry membrane stretched between the wrist and the ankle. They live in forests across North and Central America, Europe and Asia, from the 38–90 g southern flying squirrel to giant flying squirrels weighing well over 1 kg. Despite the name, they cannot truly fly: every glide starts high on one tree and ends lower on another. Also called: Polatouche (French), Letyaga (Russian), Musasabi (Japanese, for the Japanese giant flying squirrel). Furry gliding membranes, a pink glow under UV light and calls too high for you to hear. Spin it, tap it, then test yourself. ### Special abilities - **Tree-to-Tree Glide** (up to 28 m southern flying squirrel glide): Climb high, leap, spread the legs, and the furry membranes turn the squirrel into a living kite that sails to the next trunk. [1][9][16][13] - Most southern flying squirrel glides are 6–9 m. The longest reach about 28 m. - Red giant flying squirrels have been seen gliding up to 75 m. - A glide always ends lower than it started. How far a squirrel goes depends mostly on how much height it drops. - Gliders often take short, steep glides, even though longer, flatter ones would cost less energy per metre. - How far do they glide?: Southern: most glides 6–9 m; Southern: longest 28 m; Red giant: longest seen 75 m - **Wrist Wingtips** (2 cartilage spurs, one per wrist): A stiff rod of cartilage flicks out from each wrist to hold out the front corner of the membrane, like the frame of a kite. [8][2] - The styliform cartilage is attached to a small wrist bone, the pisiform. It swings out when the wrist is bent back and outwards. - Spread, it makes the gliding surface bigger. Folded, it keeps the membrane tucked away while the squirrel climbs. - The wrist bones of flying squirrels are unlike those of any other gliding mammal. - An 11.6-million-year-old fossil from Spain was first mistaken for a primate, until its tiny wrist bones showed it was a flying squirrel. - **Air-Brake Landing** (3–10× body weight on landing): Just before touching down, the squirrel tips its head and body up so the whole membrane catches the air and slows it down. [13][17] - In test jumps, northern flying squirrels landed with forces of 3–10 times their body weight. - When the approach was too steep, they couldn’t pitch up enough and landed front paws first, taking bigger jolts. - Scientists think the need for softer landings may be why gliding control evolved in flying squirrels in the first place. - Malayan colugos, unrelated gliders, also turn their bodies before landing, and land more softly after longer glides. - **Pink UV Glow** (Pink under ultraviolet light; still debated): Shine an ultraviolet torch on a North American flying squirrel and its fur glows pink, on the back and the belly. [10][11][12][2][18] - Reported in 2019 from 109 museum skins and 5 wild squirrels, in males and females of every North American species, collected over 130 years. - Day-active grey, fox and red squirrels did not glow. - Nobody knows what it is for. Ideas include camouflage, a warning or mimicry. It may have no job at all: glowing fur turns up in at least 125 mammal species, mostly night-active ones. - Night birds such as owls glow pink under UV too, from a pigment called coproporphyrin III. - **Ultrasonic Chirps** (65 kHz peak of a recorded call): Flying squirrels chirp, trill and make short bursts of noise, and some of these calls are pitched far above what people can hear. [4][19][2] - Ultrasound means sounds above 20 kHz, the top of human hearing. Noise-burst calls often peaked above 60 kHz. - Owls hear only up to about 12–14 kHz, so scientists wonder whether high calls let squirrels keep in touch without owls listening in. That idea is not yet tested. - Humboldt’s flying squirrels use arc chirps, tonal chirps, upsweeps and trills, with more trills in summer, the breeding season. - Gliding mammals in general seem to use ultrasound more than their non-gliding relatives. - How high is that?: Flying squirrel call peak 65 kHz; Top of human hearing 20 kHz; Top of barn owl hearing 13.8 kHz - **Truffle Feast** (23 groups of fungi in autumn diet): Northern flying squirrels feast on truffles, the hidden underground fruit of fungi that partner with tree roots, and spread their spores. [14][15][3] - Droppings from 318 northern flying squirrels in eastern Washington held 23 genera or groups of fungi in autumn, plus about 22% plant material. - The droppings held more kinds of truffle (19 genera) than the scientists found by searching the soil (12). - Truffle spores can pass through a mammal’s gut alive, so truffle-eaters help these root fungi spread to new trees. - **Twig-Lock Larder** (25–40° angle of the twig fork): Some small Asian flying squirrels carve a groove around a nut and jam it into a forked twig, storing it like a carpenter’s joint. [5][1] - Filmed in Hainan, China, in two species of small Hylopetes flying squirrels. - The twigs were only 0.1–0.6 cm thick and met at angles of 25–40°. - The larders were 10–25 m from the nearest nut tree, which probably keeps other animals from finding them. - Southern flying squirrels store food too. When stores run low, their spring breeding season can start later. - **Tree-Hole Nursery** (2–4 young in a northern litter): Mothers raise their tiny, hairless babies in tree holes or snug nests high above the ground. [3][1] - Northern flying squirrels nest 1–18 m up, in nests of twigs and bark lined with fur, feathers, leaves and needles. - Southern flying squirrels use old woodpecker holes, bird and squirrel nests, and nest boxes. They can have two litters a year, of 1–7 young. - A newborn southern flying squirrel weighs just 3–5 g. - Up to 8 northern flying squirrels sometimes share one nest. ### Body parts - **Eyes** (31 days until a baby’s eyes open) [1][2][3] - Big, dark eyes for the body’s size. In the southern flying squirrel they are ringed with black fur. - Flying squirrels are the only squirrels alive today that are active at night. - Before it jumps, a southern flying squirrel moves its head from side to side to judge the distance to its landing spot. - Northern flying squirrel babies are born with their eyes shut. They open after about 31 days. - **Ears** (>20 kHz some calls are ultrasonic) [4][1] - Some flying squirrel calls are ultrasonic: higher than 20 kHz, the top of human hearing. - Owls, which hunt at night, hear best between about 2 and 6 kHz and only up to about 12–14 kHz. - A baby southern flying squirrel’s ears stay sealed for its first 3–4 weeks. - **Teeth** (0.1–0.6 cm thin twigs used to hold nuts) [5][3] - In a rainforest in Hainan, China, small flying squirrels chew a groove around a nut, then wedge it tightly into a forked twig. - The groove fits the twig like a carpenter’s joint, so the nut hangs safely in the bushes. - Northern flying squirrels eat nuts, acorns, fungi and lichens, plus fruit, buds, sap and the occasional insect or bird egg. - **Gliding membranes** (Wrist to ankle furry patagium) [1][6][7] - Each side has a loose fold of furry skin, the patagium, running from the front wrist to the back ankle. - Spreading the legs pulls it tight like a kite. In the southern flying squirrel its edge is lined with black hair; the Siberian flying squirrel’s has a soft fur fringe. - Letting one side go a little slack changes the angle, speed and direction of the glide. - In lab glides, southern flying squirrels tilted the membrane at 35–54° to the airflow, steep enough to make an aircraft wing stall, and came down at angles of 40–57°. - **Wrists** (11.6 million years age of the oldest wrist spurs found) [8][2] - A rod of cartilage, the styliform cartilage, sticks out from each wrist and supports the outer edge of the membrane. - It swings out when the squirrel bends its wrist back and outwards, making the membrane bigger. - When the squirrel climbs, the wrist spur keeps the membrane tucked out of the way. - This wrist set-up is found only in flying squirrels, and it was already there in a fossil 11.6 million years old. - **Tail** (≈80% of head-and-body length) [3][9][1] - The northern flying squirrel’s tail is furry, flat and rounded at the tip, about 80% as long as its head and body. - The red giant flying squirrel’s tail is about 42 cm long, longer than its 40 cm head and body. - Many guides call the tail a rudder and brake. The studies we read describe steering mainly with the membranes, so the tail’s exact job is less well measured. - **Fur** (Pink glow under UV light) [10][11][12] - Under ultraviolet light, the fur of all North American flying squirrels glows pink, on the back and on the belly. - Museum skins of day-active grey, fox and red squirrels did not glow. - Glowing fur turns up in many night-active mammals, so the pink may come from pigments in the fur rather than a special signal. - **Legs and paws** (3–10× body weight on landing) [13][3] - In short test jumps, northern flying squirrels pushed off with 1–10 times their body weight and landed with 3–10 times. - Just before landing they tip the body up so the membrane acts like an air brake. - On a steep approach they can’t pitch up enough, so they hit front paws first and take a harder jolt. - On the ground, northern flying squirrels are clumsy compared with how gracefully they glide. - **Belly and gut** (23 kinds of fungi in the autumn diet) [14][15] - In eastern Washington, USA, the autumn diet of northern flying squirrels held 23 genera or groups of fungi, plus about 22% plant material. - Most of those fungi were truffles: the hidden, underground fruiting bodies of fungi that live on tree roots. - Truffle spores can survive the trip through a mammal’s gut. Living spores have been found in the droppings of at least 40 mammal species. ### Stats | Stat | Value | Notes | |---|---|---| | Species | 52 | in 15 genera, across North America, Europe and Asia [8] | | Southern flying squirrel | 38–90 g | 20–28.5 cm long, tail included [1] | | Red giant flying squirrel | ≈1.75 kg | average weight; head and body ≈40 cm, tail ≈42 cm; About 19 times the heaviest southern flying squirrel [9][1] | | Typical glide | 6–9 m | most southern flying squirrel glides [1] | | Longest glide seen | 75 m | red giant flying squirrel; southern flying squirrels reach about 28 m [9][1] | | Landing force | 3–10× | body weight, in short test jumps by northern flying squirrels [13] | | Highest call peak | 65 kHz | a recorded noise burst; ultrasound starts at 20 kHz [4] | | Pregnancy | 37–42 days | northern flying squirrel; about 40 days in the southern [3][1] | | Newborn weight | 3–6 g | southern 3–5 g, northern 5–6 g; born hairless with eyes closed [1][3] | | Lifespan | 3–5 years | southern flying squirrels in the wild; a northern flying squirrel has lived 13 years in captivity [1][3] | ### Photos - [Mid-glide: a southern flying squirrel with its patagium stretched tight](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gliding_flying_squirrel.jpg) (photo: Pratikppf (English Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0) - [Southern flying squirrel in a red maple](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southern_Flying_Squirrel-27527-1.jpg) (photo: Ken Thomas, Public domain) - [Snacking on sunflower seeds at a bird feeder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glaucomys_volans_Birdfeeder.jpg) (photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0) - [Northern flying squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glaucomys_sabrinus_248041879.jpg) (photo: Henrique Pacheco, CC BY 4.0) - [Northern flying squirrel in Canada](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glaucomys_sabrinus_248041903.jpg) (photo: Henrique Pacheco, CC BY 4.0) - [Siberian flying squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pteromys_volans_292232567.jpg) (photo: Andrew Bazdyrev, CC BY 4.0) - [Siberian flying squirrel in mixed forest near Borovsk, Russia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9B%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%8F%D0%B3%D0%B0.jpg) (photo: Pavel Chekanov (Чеканов Павел), CC BY-SA 4.0) - [Red giant flying squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petaurista_petaurista_58609170.jpg) (photo: Richard Fuller, CC0) - [Red giant flying squirrel, one of the biggest gliders](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petaurista_petaurista_348836749.jpg) (photo: Kalyan Varma, CC BY 4.0) - [Japanese giant flying squirrel (musasabi), Karuizawa, Japan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petaurista_leucogenys_60369499.jpg) (photo: Julia Wittmann, CC BY 4.0) ### Questions - **Can flying squirrels actually fly?** No. They glide. A flying squirrel climbs high, leaps and spreads its legs so the furry membrane between wrist and ankle pulls tight like a kite. Every glide ends lower than it started. Most southern flying squirrel glides are 6–9 m. [1][2] - **How far can a flying squirrel glide?** Southern flying squirrels usually glide 6–9 m and can manage about 28 m. Red giant flying squirrels have been seen gliding up to 75 m. The distance depends mostly on how much height the squirrel can drop. [1][9][16] - **Do flying squirrels glow in the dark?** Not on their own. But under an ultraviolet torch, the fur of North American flying squirrels glows pink. This was reported in 2019. Many other night-active mammals glow under UV too, and nobody knows yet whether the glow has a purpose. [10][11] - **Where do flying squirrels live?** There are 52 species across North America, Europe and Asia. The southern flying squirrel ranges from eastern North America to Honduras, the Siberian flying squirrel lives in the forests of northern Eurasia, and giant flying squirrels live in Asia. [8][1][6][9] - **What do flying squirrels eat?** Northern flying squirrels eat nuts, acorns, fungi and lichens, plus fruit, buds, sap and the occasional insect or bird egg. Truffles are a big part of their diet: one study found 23 groups of fungi in their autumn droppings. [3][14] - **Are flying squirrels nocturnal?** Yes. Flying squirrels are the only squirrels that are active at night, and every living gliding mammal is strictly nocturnal. [2] - **How big is a flying squirrel?** It depends on the species. A southern flying squirrel is 20–28.5 cm long including the tail and weighs 38–90 g. Northern flying squirrels weigh 70–140 g. The red giant flying squirrel averages about 1.75 kg. [1][9] - **Are flying squirrels endangered?** Most well-known species are not: the southern, northern, Siberian and red giant flying squirrels are Least Concern. But the Namdapha flying squirrel is Critically Endangered, the western woolly flying squirrel is Endangered, and the Carolina northern flying squirrel has been protected as Endangered in the USA since 1985. [22][21][23][24][28][29][20] ### Flying squirrel myths and facts Tap Myth or Fact for each claim, then check the answer. - "Flying squirrels can fly like bats." **Myth!** They glide. Gliding mammals cannot fly the way birds and bats do, so every glide ends lower than it began. [1][2][16] - "Flying squirrels flap their skin flaps to stay in the air." **Myth!** Spreading the legs holds the membrane tight, like a kite. They steer by letting one side go slightly slack, not by flapping. [1] - "Some flying squirrels glow pink under ultraviolet light." **Fact!** All North American flying squirrel species glow pink under UV light, on the back and the belly. Scientists reported it in 2019. [10] - "Scientists have proven the pink glow helps flying squirrels hide from owls." **Not proven!** Camouflage is only one idea. Glowing fur turns up in at least 125 mammal species, mostly night-active ones, and may simply be a property of pale fur. Nobody has shown what, if anything, the glow does. [10][11][12][18] - "Flying squirrels only live in faraway tropical rainforests." **Myth!** There are 52 species across North America, Europe and Asia. Southern flying squirrels live in eastern North American woods, and Siberian flying squirrels in the birch and spruce forests of northern Eurasia. [8][1][6] - "A sugar glider is a kind of flying squirrel." **Myth!** Sugar gliders are marsupials from Australia, not squirrels. Gliding evolved separately in six living groups of mammals. [25][2] - "Flying squirrels are out and about in the daytime, like other squirrels." **Myth!** Flying squirrels are the only squirrels that are active at night. In fact, every gliding mammal alive today is strictly nocturnal. [2] - "Flying squirrels make sounds too high for people to hear." **Fact!** Some of their calls are ultrasonic, with peaks above 60 kHz. People hear only up to about 20 kHz. [4] ### Flying squirrel records Superlatives and record holders, each checked against its source. - Most kinds of gliding mammal: Flying squirrels, 52 species (the only group of gliding mammals with real diversity, in 15 genera) [8] - Oldest flying squirrel skeleton: Miopetaurista neogrivensis, 11.6 million years (from Catalonia, Spain; first thought to be a primate, until its wrist bones turned up) [8] - Only night-shift squirrels: Flying squirrels, 1 group (the only living squirrels that are active at night) [2] - Longest glide on this page: Red giant flying squirrel, 75 m (an observed glide; southern flying squirrels manage about 28 m) [9][1] - Biggest gliding membrane: Colugo (Philippine flying lemur), Neck to tail tip (no other gliding mammal has such a big membrane; a flying squirrel’s runs from wrist to ankle) [26][1] - Highest-pitched call on this page: Northern and southern flying squirrels, 65 kHz (peak of a recorded noise burst, more than 3 times the top of human hearing) [4] - Tail longer than the body: Red giant flying squirrel, ≈42 cm (tail, against a head and body of about 40 cm) [9] ### A year in the life of a flying squirrel Mostly the southern flying squirrel, which can raise two families a year. - **Autumn**: Filling the larder. Flying squirrels store food for later. When a southern flying squirrel’s stores run low, the spring breeding season can be delayed. [1] - **Through the year**: Sharing a nest. Some squirrels share a home. Northern flying squirrels may live in groups of up to 8 adults and young. [3] - **February–March**: Spring breeding. The first breeding season. In a New Hampshire study it ran from 11 February to 26 March. [1] - **About 40 days later**: Tiny babies. After a pregnancy of about 40 days, the mother gives birth in a tree hole or nest. Spring litters usually have 2 or 3 hairless babies of 3–5 g each. [1] - **3–6 weeks old**: Eyes open. Eyes and ears open at about 3–4 weeks. The babies are nursed until they are about 5–6 weeks old. [1] - **About 2 months old**: First glides. In northern flying squirrels, the young are weaned at about 2 months and try their first glides around then. [20][3] - **June–July**: Second family. A second, summer breeding season for southern flying squirrels. Summer litters are often bigger, with 4–5 young. [1] - **3–5 years**: A short life. Southern flying squirrels usually live 3–5 years in the wild. [1] ### Flying squirrel vs sugar glider vs colugo Three unrelated animals that evolved the same trick: a furry gliding membrane and a life at night. | | Flying squirrel | Sugar glider | Colugo | |---|---|---|---| | What it is [8][25][26] | A rodent: a squirrel | A marsupial | A colugo, also called a “flying lemur” | | Where [8][1][25][17] | North and Central America, Europe and Asia | Eastern Australia | Southeast Asia | | Size [1][9][25][17][26] | 38–90 g (southern) to ≈1.75 kg (red giant) | 16–21 cm long | about 0.75–1.75 kg | | Gliding membrane [1][8][27][26] | Wrist to ankle, held out by a cartilage spur on each wrist | Outer side of the front foot to the ankle | Neck to the tips of the fingers, toes and tail | | Active [2][25] | At night | At night | At night | Gliding evolved separately in six living groups of mammals, and all of them are nocturnal. ### Are flying squirrels endangered? It depends on the species. The best-known flying squirrels are common, but some rare Asian species are in serious trouble. - **IUCN Red List:** Varies by species (Trend unknown). The southern, northern, Siberian and red giant flying squirrels are all Least Concern. The Namdapha flying squirrel is Critically Endangered and the western woolly flying squirrel is Endangered. [22][21][23][24][28][29] - IUCN Red List: each species is assessed separately - **Threat: Losing old trees**: Flying squirrels nest in tree holes. Siberian flying squirrels prefer forests with plenty of old, hollow trees. [6][1] - **Threat: Logging and fire (past)**: In the southern Appalachians, industrial logging and fires around 1900 badly shrank the high forests where Carolina northern flying squirrels live. [20] - **Threat: Tree-killing insects**: Tiny insects called adelgids are killing Fraser firs and hemlocks in those same mountain forests. [20] - **Threat: Climate change**: A warming climate could add more stress to cool, high mountain forests. [20] - **Helping: Legal protection** (1985): The Carolina northern flying squirrel has been listed as Endangered in the USA since 1 July 1985. [20] - **Helping: Replanting red spruce**: Biologists are restoring red spruce in parts of the southern Appalachians to make up for lost conifers. [20] - **Helping: Nest boxes**: Southern flying squirrels readily move into nest boxes as well as old woodpecker holes. [1] - **Helping: Keeping old trees**: Leaving old, hollow trees standing keeps nest sites for species like the Siberian flying squirrel. [6] - **Southern flying squirrel** (LC): Eastern North America to Central America. [22][1] - **Northern flying squirrel** (LC): The species is Least Concern; its Carolina subspecies is Endangered under US law. [21][20] - **Siberian flying squirrel** (LC): Northern Europe and Asia; depends on old, hollow trees. [23][6] - **Red giant flying squirrel** (LC): One of the biggest flying squirrels, at about 1.75 kg. [24][9] - **Western woolly flying squirrel** (EN): Endangered on the IUCN Red List. [29] - **Namdapha flying squirrel** (CR): Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. [28] ### Flying squirrel signals - Head moving from side to side on a branch: Measuring the distance to the landing spot before a jump. [1] - Legs spread wide, membranes pulled tight: Gliding. Letting one side go slack steers the glide. [1] - Body tipped up just before reaching a trunk: Braking for a soft landing. [13] - Trills, more often in summer: Possibly linked to the breeding season (Humboldt’s flying squirrel). [19] - Several squirrels in one nest: Northern flying squirrels sometimes share a nest, up to 8 together. [3] ### Species - **Northern flying squirrel**: Bigger than its southern cousin: about 25–30 cm long and 70–140 g, with a flat, furry tail about 80% as long as its head and body. (IUCN: Least Concern. The Carolina subspecies is listed as Endangered in the USA.) [1][3][20][21] - **Southern flying squirrel**: Small: 20–28.5 cm long including the tail and 38–90 g, with big dark eyes ringed in black and a membrane edged with black hair. (IUCN: Least Concern. Often moves into nest boxes.) [1][22] - **Siberian flying squirrel**: Head and body 12–23 cm and about 130 g on average, with a soft fringe of fur along the edge of the membrane. (IUCN: Least Concern. Prefers forests with plenty of old, hollow trees.) [6][23] - **Giant flying squirrel (red giant)**: A heavyweight: the red giant flying squirrel averages about 1.75 kg, with a 40 cm head and body and an even longer 42 cm tail. (Glides seen up to 75 m. Red, Japanese and Indian giant flying squirrels are all Least Concern.) [9][24][8] ### Flying squirrel quiz 1. Can flying squirrels truly fly? **No, they glide.** They glide on a furry membrane. Every glide ends lower than it started. [1][2] 2. What is a flying squirrel’s gliding membrane called? **Patagium.** The patagium is a fold of furry skin from the wrist to the ankle. [1] 3. What colour does North American flying squirrel fur glow under UV light? **Pink.** It glows pink, on the back and the belly. What the glow is for is still unknown. [10] 4. How long are most southern flying squirrel glides? **6–9 m.** Most glides are 6–9 m; the longest reach about 28 m. [1] 5. What holds out the front corner of the membrane? **A cartilage spur on the wrist.** The styliform cartilage swings out from the wrist. It is unique to flying squirrels. [8] 6. How high can some flying squirrel calls peak? **Over 60 kHz.** Some calls peak above 60 kHz, far above the 20 kHz limit of human hearing. [4] 7. What does a flying squirrel do just before landing? **Tips its body up to brake.** Pitching up turns the membrane into an air brake and softens the landing. [13] 8. Which hidden food do northern flying squirrels eat lots of? **Truffles.** Truffles, the underground fruit of fungi. Their autumn diet held 23 groups of fungi. [14] 9. How do some small Asian flying squirrels store nuts? **Wedge them into forked twigs.** They chew a groove around the nut and jam it between thin twigs, like a carpenter’s joint. [5] 10. How old is the oldest flying squirrel skeleton found so far? **11.6 million years.** It is about 11.6 million years old and comes from Catalonia, Spain. [8] 11. Which of these is NOT a squirrel? **Sugar glider.** The sugar glider is a marsupial from Australia that evolved gliding separately. [25] 12. About how many species of flying squirrel are there? **About 50.** A 2018 count gives 52 species in 15 genera. [8] ### Sources (checked 2026-10-16) 1. [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Glaucomys volans (southern flying squirrel).](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Glaucomys_volans/) 2. [Newar SL, Schneiderová I, Hughes B, Bowman J (2024). Ultrasound and ultraviolet: crypsis in gliding mammals. PeerJ 12:e17048.](https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17048) 3. [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Glaucomys sabrinus (northern flying squirrel).](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Glaucomys_sabrinus/) 4. [Murrant MN, Bowman J, Garroway CJ, Prinzen B, Mayberry H, Faure PA (2013). Ultrasonic vocalizations emitted by flying squirrels. PLoS ONE 8(8):e73045.](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073045) 5. [Xu H, Xia L, Spence JR, Lin M, Lu C, Li Y, Chen J, Luo T, Li Y, Fang S (2023). Flying squirrels use a mortise-tenon structure to fix nuts on understory twigs. eLife 12:e84967.](https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.84967) 6. [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Pteromys volans (Siberian flying squirrel).](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pteromys_volans/) 7. [Bishop KL (2006). The relationship between 3-D kinematics and gliding performance in the southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans. Journal of Experimental Biology 209(4):689–701.](https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.02062) 8. [Casanovas-Vilar I, Garcia-Porta J, Fortuny J, Sanisidro Ó, Prieto J, Querejeta M, Llácer S, Robles JM, Bernardini F, Alba DM (2018). Oldest skeleton of a fossil flying squirrel casts new light on the phylogeny of the group. eLife 7:e39270.](https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39270) 9. [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Petaurista petaurista (red giant flying squirrel).](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Petaurista_petaurista/) 10. [Kohler AM, Olson ER, Martin JG, Anich PS (2019). Ultraviolet fluorescence discovered in New World flying squirrels (Glaucomys). Journal of Mammalogy 100(1):21–30.](https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy177) 11. [Travouillon KJ, Cooper C, Bouzin JT, Umbrello LS, Lewis SW (2023). All-a-glow: spectral characteristics confirm widespread fluorescence for mammals. Royal Society Open Science 10(10):230325.](https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230325) 12. [Hughes B, Bowman J, Stock NL, Burness G (2022). Using mass spectrometry to investigate fluorescent compounds in squirrel fur. PLoS ONE 17(2):e0257156.](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257156) 13. [Paskins KE, Bowyer A, Megill WM, Scheibe JS (2007). Take-off and landing forces and the evolution of controlled gliding in northern flying squirrels Glaucomys sabrinus. Journal of Experimental Biology 210(8):1413–1423.](https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.02747) 14. [Lehmkuhl JF, Gould LE, Cázares E, Hosford DR (2004). Truffle abundance and mycophagy by northern flying squirrels in eastern Washington forests. Forest Ecology and Management 200(1–3):49–65.](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.06.006) 15. [Elliott TF, Truong C, Jackson SM, Zúñiga CL, Trappe JM, Vernes K (2022). Mammalian mycophagy: a global review of ecosystem interactions between mammals and fungi. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 9:99–159.](https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2022.09.07) 16. [Suzuki KK, Yanagawa H (2019). Gliding patterns of Siberian flying squirrels in relation to forest structure. iForest 12:114–117.](https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2954-011) 17. [Byrnes G, Lim NT, Spence AJ (2008). Take-off and landing kinetics of a free-ranging gliding mammal, the Malayan colugo (Galeopterus variegatus). Proceedings of the Royal Society B 275(1638):1007–1013.](https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2007.1684) 18. [Reinhold LM, Rymer TL, Helgen KM, Wilson DT (2023). Photoluminescence in mammal fur: 111 years of research. Journal of Mammalogy 104(4):892–906.](https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyad027) 19. [Farwell TA, Clucas B (2024). Seasonal variation in the ultrasonic vocal activity of Humboldt's flying squirrel (Glaucomys oregonensis). Ecology and Evolution 14(9):e70344.](https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70344) 20. [U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus).](https://www.fws.gov/species/carolina-northern-flying-squirrel-glaucomys-sabrinus-coloratus) 21. [Wikidata / IUCN Red List. Northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus (Q1094722): Least Concern (IUCN ID 39553).](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1094722) 22. [Wikidata / IUCN Red List. Southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans (Q913350): Least Concern (IUCN ID 9240).](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q913350) 23. [Wikidata / IUCN Red List. Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans (Q243339): Least Concern (IUCN ID 18702).](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243339) 24. [Wikidata / IUCN Red List. Red giant flying squirrel, Petaurista petaurista (Q1193747): Least Concern (IUCN ID 16723).](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1193747) 25. [Australian Museum. Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps).](https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/sugar-glider/) 26. [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Cynocephalus volans (Philippine flying lemur).](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cynocephalus_volans/) 27. [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Petaurus breviceps (sugar glider).](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Petaurus_breviceps/) 28. [Wikidata / IUCN Red List. Namdapha flying squirrel, Biswamoyopterus biswasi (Q1482523): Critically Endangered (IUCN ID 2816).](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1482523) 29. [Wikidata / IUCN Red List. Western woolly flying squirrel, Eupetaurus cinereus (Q1404332): Endangered (IUCN ID 8269).](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1404332) ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-20 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.15 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Litter Size:** 2-7 - **Gestation:** 37-41 days ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores munch on nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and even insects. - **Primary Foods:** Acorns, Hickory nuts, Fungi, Berries, Insects, Lichen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A silent, nocturnal predator that hunts flying squirrels. - **Eaten by:** [Long-tailed Weasel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-tailed-weasel) (*Mustela frenata*) — A slender, agile hunter that can pursue squirrels into tree hollows. - **Eats:** Oregon Truffle (*Rhizopogon vinicolor*) — Helps disperse the spores of this underground fungus, aiding forest health. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you ever see a flying squirrel, admire them from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Flying Squirrel? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Flying Squirrel? 12-20 cm ### What is Flying Squirrel's wingspan? 25-35 cm ### How much does Flying Squirrel weigh? 0.05-0.15 kg ### How long does Flying Squirrel live? 3-6 years ### What does Flying Squirrel eat? These omnivores munch on nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and even insects. ### Where is Flying Squirrel usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Boston Aquarial and Zoological Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boston-aquarial-and-zoological-gardens) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Barnum's Aquarial Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barnums-aquarial-gardens) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Flying Squirrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flying-squirrel)