Logo: Gliding mammals of the world

Gliding Mammals of the World


The world’s gliding mammals are an extraordinary group of animals that have the ability to glide from tree to tree with seemingly effortless grace. There are more than 60 species of gliding mammals including the flying squirrels from Europe and North America, the scaly-tailed flying squirrels from central Africa and the gliding possums of Australia and New Guinea.

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Feathertail Glider

Acrobates pygmaeus

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Northern Glider

Petaurus abidi

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Yellow-bellied Glider

Petaurus australis

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Biak Glider

Petaurus biacensis

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Sugar Glider

Petaurus breviceps

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Mahogany Glider

Petaurus gracilis

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Squirrel Glider

Petaurus norfolcensis

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Greater Glider

Petauroides volans

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Philippine Colugo

Cynocephalus volans

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Malayan Colugo

Galeopterus variegatus

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North Chinese Flying Squirrel

Aeretes melanopterus

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Black Flying Squirrel

Aeromys tephromelas

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Namdapha Flying Squirrel

Biswamoyopterus biswasi

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Kashmir Flying Squirrel

Eoglaucomys fimbriatus

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Northern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys sabrinus

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Southern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys volans

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Particolored Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes alboniger

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Bartel’s Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes bartelsi

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Palawan Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes nigripes

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Grey-cheeked Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes platyurus

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Sipora Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes sipora

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Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes spadiceus

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Sumatran Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes winstoni

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Javanese Flying Squirrel

Iomys horsfieldi

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Flying Squirrel

Iomys sipora Mentawai

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Lesser Pygmy Flying Squirrel

Petaurillus emiliae

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Selangor Pygmy Flying Squirrel

Petaurillus kinlochii

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Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista leucogenys

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Red Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista petaurista

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Indian Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista philippensis

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Chinese Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista xanthotis

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Yunnan Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista yunanensis

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Basilan Flying Squirrel

Petinomys crinitus

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Travancore Flying Squirrel

Petinomys fuscocapillus

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Whiskered Flying Squirrel

Petinomys genibarbis

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Siberut Flying Squirrel

Petinomys lugens

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Mindanao Flying Squirrel

Petinomys mindanensis

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Vordermann’s Flying Squirrel

Petinomys vordermanni

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Japanese Flying Squirrel

Pteromys momonga

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Smoky Flying Squirrel

Pteromyscus pulverulentus

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Complex-toothed Flying Squirrel

Trogopterus xanthipes

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North Chinese Flying Squirrel / Aeretes melanopterus

North Chinese Flying Squirrel
Aeretes melanopterus

Palawan Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes nigripes

Palawan Flying Squirrel
Hylopetes nigripes

Selangor Pygmy Flying Squirrel / Petaurillus kinlochii

Selangor Pygmy Flying Squirrel
Petaurillus kinlochii


Gliding Mammals of the World provides, for the first time, a synthesis of all that is known about the biology of these intriguing mammals. It includes a brief description of each species, together with a distribution map and a beautiful full-color painting.

An introduction outlines the origins and biogeography of each group of gliding mammals and examines the incredible adaptations that allow them to launch themselves and glide from tree to tree.