Whiskered Flying Squirrel

Description: A small species, particularly for the Petinomys genus. The upper parts of its body are reddish-brown with grey under-fur, speckled with grey towards the front and with reddish-gold towards the back, giving an unusual chestnut brown or pinkish tinge. Its underparts are cream or dull orange-buff. Its gliding membrane has a white margin.

The species has a well-defined chestnut eye ring and a rusty coloured tail with darker brown streaking. It has a streak of whitish hairs at the base of each ear and a distinct tuft of long whiskers on the cheek behind the eye. A pronounced wart, about 5 millimetres in diameter and bearing a tuft of long black whiskers, is located on each cheek. No other flying squirrel has a pinkish rump or prominent tuft of whiskers behind the eyes.

Distribution: Occurs on the Malay Peninsula, adjacent Penang Island, and in Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, as well as East Kalimantan on Borneo, Sumatra (including Bangka Island) and Java. It is found in tall and secondary forest. In Malaysia it has been recorded from forest up to 450 metres elevation.

Reproduction: The female has a gestation of 53 days and produces a single young, which is born, unlike those of the other flying squirrels, with its eyes open, fully furred and with claws. The young are also precocial in their behaviour.

Diet: Nothing is known.

Ecology: Very little is known.

Status: Vulnerable.