Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel

activity

Activity patterns. Japanese Giant Flying Squirrels are nocturnal and arboreal. Under natural conditions, they spend the day at rest in hollow trees and branches and usually become active ¢. 30 minutes after sunset. At night, they glide from one tree to another.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Mature stands of primary or secondary broad-leaved or mixed forests.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Individuals can have considerable home range overlap although females never overlap with other females. For nesting, they often converge on mature forest patches where nest cavities are available. One study reported that home range use is not homogenous but instead is concentrated in patches of secondary forests where food is abundant. Males have larger home ranges than females. When home ranges overlap, individuals may successively use the same nests. Studies on glide performance reported average glide ratios (horizontal distance / vertical height) of 1 - 9, with upper limits of 3 - 5. Air speeds were 4: 4 - 9 - 5 m / sec, with 3 - 3 - 7 m / sec recorded in two studies. Horizontal glide distancesin four study areas were 10 - 100 m and averaged 17 - 1 - 33 - 1 m.

Sciuridae

breeding

Breeding. Reports suggest that Japanese Giant Flying Squirrels mate from mid-November to mid-January in winter and from mid-May to mid-June in summer. Gestation is ¢. 74 days; litters are 1 - 2 young. Young are weaned by ¢. 90 days of age and begin feeding independently at c. 80 days. They are able to glide a few days after their first emergence from nests.

Sciuridae