What Is Glaucomys? About The Genus Of New World Flying Squirrels
GLAUCOMYS – In this topic, we are going to know about a genus of New World flying squirrels known as Glaucomys.
As mentioned, it is a genus of New World flying squirrels in the squirrel family Sciuridae.
They are the only species of flying squirrel found in North America and are distributed from Alaska to Honduras. There are only three species of this genus, among them were two that can be easily distinguished on the basis of size and ventral pelage.
Flying squirrels are actually gliding rather than how its named, using a membrane called a patagium created by a fold of skin which starts at the wrists of the forearms and extends along the sides of the body up to the ankles of the hind legs.
It is said that they used triangulation to estimate the distance of the landing area as they lean out and pivot from side to side before jumping.
They form an X” with their limbs by spreading their long arms forward and out and their long legs backward and out as they are in the air.
As mentioned above, there are three species, namely:
- Southern flying squirrel | G. volans
- Northern flying squirrel | G. sabrinus
- Humboldt’s flying squirrel | G. oregonensis
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