Page 123 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL 123

Comparisons

Southern flying squirrels are competent gliders, but south-east Asia’s and ankles, but the colugos’ gliding membrane is much more
colugos (family Cynocephalidae) are real exponents of the art.The substantial.Additional skin stretches between the both hind legs and
squirrels’ patagium is a square sheet of muscle attached to the wrists the tail, creating a kite shape that makes it more efficient in the air.

Southern flying squirrel

Colugo

Southern flying squirrel habitats naturally solitary and can only tolerate each other during
the breeding season. In comparison, southern flying
squirrels seem like party animals! In the south of their
range, they will usually feed and nest alone, but in the
cooler north, where sharing body warmth with others
helps to conserve energy, they can often be found in
groups of up to 20 or more.There are even reports of
flying squirrels hunkering down with other species like
screech-owls (genus Megascops) and bats.
In the wild, these large-eyed mammals usually live in
woodlands, where they nest in tree hollows, often those
discarded by woodpeckers. However, they are a very
adaptable species and any available hideaway makes an
acceptable home.They’re quite comfortable in bird boxes,
out-buildings and attics. By day, they spend much of their
time asleep, either in a tree cavity or a purpose-built nest.
When night falls, they emerge from cover to feed. Using
their gliding membrane to travel from tree to tree, these
great advantage.A further benefit is that gliding uses much amazing animals can cover great distances on foraging
less energy than flying. expeditions and enjoy a varied diet as a result. Seeds, fruit
and the nuts from trees such as hickory, red and white oak,
Sociable squirrels and beech are all favourites, but these perky mammals will
Most animals are highly territorial and will only share take bird’s eggs, insects and carrion if it’s easy to access.
space with other members of their own, extended families. Like all squirels, they store any excess food, especially
Some species are so anti-social that they don’t even like acorns, for the winter when they lie low and eke out the
each other! American mink (Neovison vison) for instance are supplies they accumulated during the good weather.

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