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Key Facts about Indian Giant Flying Squirrel

July 14, 2026

A rare Indian giant flying squirrel has been recently spotted in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar forests for the first time in nearly 12 years.

About Indian Giant Flying Squirrel:

  • The Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis), also known as the large brown flying squirrel or the common giant flying squirrel, is a type of rodent in the Sciuridae family, which includes squirrels.
  • It is capable of gliding flight using a skin membrane, the patagium, stretched between front and hind legs.
  • Scientific Name: Petaurista philippensis
  • Habitat and Distribution:
    • It can be found only in Southeast and South Asia and southern and central China.
    • In South Asia they have a patchy distribution in Sri Lanka and India, primarily concentrated in the Himalayan Mountains and northeast regions north of Bombay and Rajasthan.
    • They live in dry deciduous and evergreen forests, usually at higher elevations.
    • They can also be found in plantations.
  • Features:
    • It is one of the largest flying squirrels.
    • It is nocturnal
    • It is arboreal and spends most of the life in the canopy.
  • Conservation Status:
    • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

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