The smoky flying squirrel (''Pteromyscus pulverulentus'') is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

in the family

Sciuridae Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae (), a family that includes small or medium-sized rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrel ...

. It is

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unisp ...

within the

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

''Pteromyscus''. It is found in parts of Brunei, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, and southern Thailand, but its range may be more extensive than currently mapped. Their natural

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

is subtropical or tropical dry

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

s. It is listed as an endangered species because of estimated population loss of 50% in past and future, judging from extensive and rapid

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

. Its average body length ranges from 22 centimetres to 29 centimetres (cm). Their tails range from 18 to 23 centimetres, feet range from 38 to 45 millimetres (mm), and ears range from 17 to 23 millimetres. In total, the smoky flying squirrel weights approximately 5 to 9 ounces (oz). According to records of sightings from

Borneo Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...

and Malaysia, the species is only rarely sighted even in primary/pristine forest, although it lives mainly in these conditions. A threat to the smoky flying squirrel population is habitat loss due to low elevational range, restricting or preventing long-distance gliding needed to maintain a large range. Smoky flying squirrels usually eat fruits, nuts, and fungi found on nocturnal forays through the trees.

References

Mammals described in 1873 Taxa named by Albert Günther Flying squirrels Rodents of Borneo Mammals of Brunei Mammals of Thailand Rodents of Indonesia Rodents of Malaysia Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Squirrel-stub