Red giant flying squirrel

An animal of the Mammalia class, Rodentia order, Sciuridae family. A type of flying squirrel, it lives in the forests of eastern India, Myanmar (Burma) and Sri Lanka in Southeast Asia. Its body length is 45-60 cm, its tail length 60 cm. It builds nests of leaves and moss in tree holes or between branches, sometimes reaching up to 1 meter in diameter, and lives in pairs or with its young. At night, it glides from tree to tree for distances of up to 60 meters using the membrane between its front and hind legs, or moves around the treetops, feeding on leaves, buds and fruit. It only gives birth to one young at a time.

[Yoshiharu Imaizumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱齧歯(げっし)目リス科の動物。ムササビの一種で、インド東部、東南アジアのミャンマー（ビルマ）、スリランカの森林にすむ。体長45～60センチメートル、尾長60センチメートル。樹上の洞や枝の間に葉やコケなどで、ときに直径1メートルに達する巣をつくり、つがいまたは親子で暮らす。夜間に、前肢と後肢の間の飛膜で木から木へ最長60メートルも滑空したり、樹上を動き回って、葉、芽、果実を食べる。1産1子。

［今泉吉晴］

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