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Southern flying squirrel - GLAUCOMYS VOLANS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Squirrel": "Squirrel" comes from the Middle English word
"squyrel," which came from the Greek "skiouros" for the animal.
Notice that the family name for these animals is "Sciuridae," which
may also be the derivation of our word "scurry."
Location: Central and eastern United States and parts of Mexico and Central America
Habitat: Temperate and aubtemperate forests.
Description: The front legs are connected to the hind legs by a hairy fold of skin, which enables this animal to glide skillfully through the air. The fur is a dense silky coat which varies somewhat in color: on the back it ranges from pinkish-cinnamon to brown; the underside from white to creamy. The tail is flat and plume-shaped. The eyes are large. Length of head and body about ten inches, with the tail adding another five inches. It weighs about three ounces.
Behavior: This mammal is nocturnal, remaining hidden all day in hollows or nests in trees (which may have been taken over from tree squirrels, woodpeckers, or other birds). The inside of the nest is lined with soft bark, moss, lichens, and feathers. Flying squirrels feed on fruit, leaves, insects, birds' eggs, and other small animals. It moves from tree to tree by gliding, and can cover up to 30 feet in a single flight. It is solitary (except for mother and baby), but there may be a fairly dense population in some areas. It is less active in the winter months, but does not hibernate.
Reproduction: Mating occurs in February or March, and after a gestation period of about 40 days the female delivers 2 to 6 young.
Go to the Rodents Page to learn more about all the gnawing animals.
Or go to the Squirrel Index to study other
squirrels.
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