Laotian giant flying squirrel
| Laotian giant flying squirrel | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Tribe: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | B. laoensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Biswamoyopterus laoensis Sanamxay, Douangboubpha, Bumrungsri, Xayavong, Xayaphet, Satasook & Bates 2013[1]
| |
The Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis) is an arboreal, flying squirrel endemic to Laos. It was the second described member in the genus Biswamoyopterus, after being first collected in September 2012 by scientists researching the animal corpses in the semi-legal Thongnami bushmeat market, Ban Thongnami, Pakkading District, Bolikhamxai Province.
Description
B. laoensis has reddish, grizzled fur with white above. Its crown is pale grey, its patagium is orangish and its underparts are white.
B. laoensis has the greatest length in the squirrel family, with a body length of 0.46 m and a tail length of 0.62 m, for a total length of 1.08 m, along with a mass of 1.8 kg.[2][3] This is slightly larger than the one other Biswamoyopterus species, B. biswasi, known from a single sample found in India in 1981.
References
- ^ Sanamxay, Daosavanh. "Rediscovery of Biswamoyopterus (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae: Pteromyini) in Asia, with the description of a new species from Lao PDR". Zootaxa. 3686 (4). Magnolia Press: 471–481. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3686.4.5. ISSN 1175-5334.
- ^ Prostak, Sergio (2013-09-06). "Biswamoyopterus laoensis: New Species of Flying Squirrel from Laos". Sci-News. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
- ^ Kimbrough, Liz (2013-08-06). "Scientists discover new flying mammal in bushmeat market". Mongabay. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
.jpg)