Taiwan Giant Flying Squirrel

Description: A large species with very distinctive uniformly rufous back, a dull brown tail and a uniformly white underparts.

Distribution: Confined to the island of Taiwan where it is restricted to elevations of 1200–3750 metres. It occurs in hardwood and coniferous forests, although prefers hardwood forests.

There appears to be a degree of spatial separation between this species and the Red Giant Flying Squirrel, which also occurs in Taiwan, as the latter species is more abundant at lower elevations in broad-leaved hardwood forests.

Reproduction: ing has been observed once in June.

Mating has been observed once in June.

Diet: Consists primarily of leaves, bark and fruit. It feeds also on the leaves and fruit of Stone Oak (Pasania kawakamii); leaves of Machilis japonica, Quandong (Elaeocarpus sylvestris), Wheel Tree (Trochodendron aralioides), Mucuna macrocarpa, Taiwan Turpinia (Turpinia formosana), Ring-cupped Oak (Quercus glauca), Nanoto Pasania (Pasania nantoensis) and Oak (Lithocarpus amygdalifolius); on the seeds of Cunninghamia (Cunninghamia konishii); and on the leaves and flowers of Fried Egg Plant (Gordonia axillaris).

The bark of Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), a plantation tree, is known to be consumed as the stomachs of collected animals were nearly full of bark.

Ecology: Limited observations have indicated population densities ranging from 0.15 animals per 10 hectares in coniferous plantations to 2.98 animals per 10 hectares in hardwood forests.

Status: Not Evaluated.

Note: This species has typically been included as a subspecies of the Red and White Giant Flying Squirrel, however it was suggested to be a distinct species in 2004.