|
||||
Northern Flying SquirrelsThe Northern flying squirrel is one of 36 species of flying squirrels, all belonging to the subfamily named Petauristinae and the squirrel family Sciuridae. The Northern flying squirrel and the Southern flying squirrel are the only species of flying squirrel native to the North American continent. These two species once migrated from Asia to North America via the Bering Land Bridge. The scientific name for the Northern flying squirrel is Glaucomys sabrinus, while the Southern flying squirrel is known as Glaucomys volans. The Northern flying squirrel is found in Canada and the USA. Its range stretches from Alaska to Nova Scotia, all the way south to the U.S. state of North Carolina, and west to the northern parts of California. In the southern Appalachian mountains, you can find to subspecies of Northern flying squirrel – the Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus) and the Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus). |
The coat of the Northern flying squirrel is cinnamon or light brown in color at the upper part of the animals’ body. The flanks are greyish, while the underneath is whitish. Just like the other flying squirrels, the Northern flying squirrel is famous for the furry membrane that extends between its front and rear legs. This type of membrane is known as a “patagium” and is used when the flying squirrel glides through the air. The flying squirrels are not really flying, so the name Northern gliding squirrel would actually be more appropriate than Northern flying squirrel.
The Northern flying squirrel can use its sensitive nose to find truffles, and research indicates that it also uses environmental cues to find this precious commodity in the forest. An area with plenty of coarse woody debris is for instance a good place to start sniffing for truffles. The Northern flying squirrel also seems to have a very good memory and excellent spatial intelligence, because it can remember truffle spots and return to them much later. In addition to mycorrhizal fungi such as truffle, the Northern flying squirrel eats tree sap, nuts, buds, flowers, lichens, mushrooms, carrion, bird eggs and newly hatched chicks.
Compared to the Southern flying squirrel, the Northern flying squirrel is a new addition to the North American fauna. The Southern flying squirrel migrated to North America via the Bering Land Bridge approximately 25 million years ago, while the ancestors of the Northern flying squirrel took the same route 13 million year later during the Pliocene era. Most experts agree that the Northern flying squirrel come from a different stock than the Southern flying squirrel. They both originate from Asia, but there are several notable differences between the two species. You can for instance see how the baculum of the Northern flying squirrel is more similar to baculums found on squirrels in the Asian genus Hylopetes, than to the baculum of the Southern flying squirrel. (The baculum is a bone that aids the male during the mating process by supporting the penis. This type of bone is not only found in flying squirrels; it is quite common among mammal species.)
There exists 25 subspecies of the Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus). The most common subspecies of Northern flying squirrel across the species range is Glaucomys sabrinus sabrinus, a subspecies that can be found in Canada as well as in the United States. The other seven subspecies that occur in both countries are Glaucomys sabrinus canescens,
Glaucomys sabrinus columbiensis, Glaucomys sabrinus fuliginosis, Glaucomys sabrinus latipes, Glaucomys sabrinus macrotis, Glaucomys sabrinus oregonensis and Glaucomys sabrinus yukonensis. Seven other subspecies of Northern flying squirrel can only be found in Canada: Glaucomys sabrinus alpinus, Glaucomys sabrinus goodwini, Glaucomys sabrinus gouldi, Glaucomys sabrinus griseifrons, Glaucomys sabrinus makkovikensis, Glaucomys sabrinus reductus and Glaucomys sabrinus zaphaeus. No less than ten subspecies of Northern flying squirrel are found only in the USA: Glaucomys sabrinus bangsi, Glaucomys sabrinus californicus, Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus, Glaucomys sabrinus flaviventris, Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, Glaucomys sabrinus klamathensis, Glaucomys sabrinus lascivus, Glaucomys sabrinus lucifugus, Glaucomys sabrinus murinauralis and Glaucomys sabrinus stephensi.
|
Copyright 2005 flyingsquirrel.info.
Other network sites: Mammals, Birds & Reptiles - Insects & Fish - Plants - Sponsors
northern flying squirrels