Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
Petaurista philippensis
Silhouette: CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (photograph) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusPetaurista (Giant Flying Squirrels)
- SpeciesPetaurista philippensis (Indian Giant Flying Squirrel)
About the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
The Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis), also called the large brown flying squirrel or the common giant flying squirrel, is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is capable of gliding flight using a skin membrane, the patagium, stretched between front and hind legs. It is found in mainland Southeast and South Asia, and southern and central China.
This is a large species, with a head and body length of about 43 cm and a tail of 50–52 cm. It has black to gray-brown fur, long and soft on the upper parts and somewhat shorter underneath the body, with a grizzled appearance. A wing membrane between the forelimb and hindlimb, paler coloured underneath, allows gliding between trees. The tail is hairy and blackish to gray-brown, the feet are black, and the nose is pale pink with black vibrissae.
Its taxonomy is very complex and not fully resolved. Up until the 1980s, some authorities even listed the Indian giant flying squirrel itself as a subspecies of the red giant flying squirrel (P. petaurista). In 2005, Mammal Species of the World included grandis, yunanensis, hainana, nigra, rubicundus and rufipes (last four as synonyms of... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel in Cat Tien National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cat Tien National Park
Pallas's Squirrel
Callosciurus erythraeus
Cambodian Striped Squirrel
Tamiops rodolphii
Indochinese Ground Squirrel
Menetes berdmorei
Black Giant Squirrel
Ratufa bicolor
Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel
Hylopetes spadiceus
Particolored Flying Squirrel
Hylopetes alboniger
Malayan Porcupine
Hystrix brachyura
Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse
Chiropodomys gliroides
Indomalayan Long-tailed Giant Rat
Leopoldamys sabanus
Edward’s Rat
Leopoldamys edwardsi
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cat Tien National Park | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | |
| 2 | Kanha National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Mudumalai National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Cuc Phuong National Park | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | |
| 5 | Kaeng Krachan National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 6 | Khao Yai National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Indian Giant Flying Squirrel in Cat Tien National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Indian Giant Flying Squirrel sighting in Cat Tien National Park, based on 27 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Indian Giant Flying Squirrel in Cat Tien National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Indian Giant Flying Squirrel in Cat Tien National Park in our monthly data.