# Southern Flying Squirrel (*Glaucomys volans*) The Southern Flying Squirrel is a small, cute animal that glides through the trees. With its big eyes and fluffy tail, it loves to play and explore at night! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Southern Flying Squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Southern_Flying_Squirrel-27527-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ken Thomas, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southern_Flying_Squirrel-27527-1.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Flying Squirrel has soft, dense fur that is brownish-grey on its back and sides, contrasting with a pure white belly. It features large, dark eyes for nocturnal vision and a flattened, bushy tail. A distinct loose flap of skin, called a patagium, extends between its front and hind limbs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Glaucomys ## Interesting facts - Southern Flying Squirrels sometimes eat birds' eggs or even baby birds for protein! - These tiny gliders steer themselves by moving their wrists and ankles while airborne! - They huddle together in tree holes during winter to stay warm, sometimes 20 squirrels! - They use their bushy tail like a parachute or rudder for incredible mid-air control! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Navigator:** Southern Flying Squirrels can glide gracefully between trees thanks to a special skin membrane, allowing agile, controlled flight. - **Night Vision Master:** It has large, dark eyes that collect maximum light, helping it navigate and find food easily in the dark of night. - **Agile Acrobats:** Southern Flying Squirrels are incredibly nimble climbers, able to cling to bark and make quick maneuvers in the forest canopy. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 21-26 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.08 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-7 - **Gestation:** 37-41 days ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore, it enjoys nuts, seeds, fruits, and even insects. - **Primary Foods:** Nuts (acorns, hickory), Seeds, Fruits, Fungi, Insects (moths, beetles), Bird eggs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A frequent nocturnal predator of flying squirrels. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Nocturnal predator that raids nests in tree cavities. - **Depends on:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Relies on acorns from oak trees as a major food source. - **Shelter:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Often uses abandoned woodpecker holes for nesting and shelter. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [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 see a flying squirrel, watch quietly from a distance. They are shy and like to be left alone. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern 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 Southern Flying Squirrel? 21-26 cm ### What is Southern Flying Squirrel's wingspan? 20-25 cm ### How much does Southern Flying Squirrel weigh? 0.05-0.08 kg ### How long does Southern Flying Squirrel live? 3-6 years ### How fast can Southern Flying Squirrel move? 40 km/h ### What does Southern Flying Squirrel eat? An omnivore, it enjoys nuts, seeds, fruits, and even insects. ### Where is Southern Flying Squirrel usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Chesapeake Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesapeake-arboretum) — Virginia, US · Botanical Garden - [Flag Run Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flag-run-park) — Virginia, US · Park ## 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: [Southern Flying Squirrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-flying-squirrel)