Red and White Giant Flying Squirrel

activity

Activity patterns. Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrels are nocturnal and are reported to glide more than 400 m.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Typically, dense hillside forests of hardwoods and conifers at elevations of 2000 - 3000 m in Tibet, Myanmar, and Thailand. In China, the Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel inhabits deep valleys of rainforest and tropical deciduous or mixed forests at elevations of 800 - 3500 m. Hardwood forests are preferred over those of conifers. It nests in hollow trees and cliff crevices.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Based on spotlight counts, Redand-white Giant Flying Squirrels are more abundant in hardwood forests than conifer forests. There is significant seasonal variation in abundance in hardwood forests: highest densities occur in autumn (0 - 44 ind / ha) and lowest in winter (0 - 22 ind / ha). In forests with Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrels and Red Giant Flying Squirrel, they use the same tree species, but Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrels appear to reside higher in the canopy. The Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel is reportedly sympatric with the Particolored Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger), the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis), and the Complex-toothed Flying Squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes). In Taiwan, where two of these species are often found in the same forests, it is suggested that differences in body size (Red Giant Flying Squirrels 989 - 1597 g; Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrels 1223 - 1930 g), along with abundant food resources, allow them to coexist, partitioning nest cavities and resting sites and thus avoiding competitive interactions. In most sightings in trees, these squirrels were found

Sciuridae

breeding

Breeding. Mating of the Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel was observed only in June, and reproductive rate is likely low, less than two young perlitter.

Sciuridae