Aeretes melanoplerus
Creators: name: Wilson, Don E.
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Sciuridae
Aeretes
Aeretes melanoplerus

description: 160. Northern Chinese Flying Squirrel <i>Aeretes melanoplerus</i> <b>French:</b> Polatouche de Chine / <b>German:</b> Furchenzahn-Gleithérnchen / <b>Spanish:</b> Ardilla voladora de China septentrional <b>Other common names:</b> Groove-toothed Flying Squirrel, North Chinese Flying Squirrel <b>Taxonomy.</b> Pteromys melanopterus Milne-Edwards, 1867, “Province of Hebei, China.” Two subspecies are recognized. <b>Subspecies and Distribution.</b> A. m. melanopterus Milne-Edwards, 1867 — Hebei, E China. A. m. szechuanensis Wang Yuchin, Tu Yunren &amp; Wang Sung 1966 — Gansu and Si- chuan, C China. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 275-365 mm, tail 275-362 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Northern Chinese Flying Squirrel is mediums-sized, with bushy flattened tail. Dorsum is sandy brown and trimmed in black along edges of patagium; feet are black. Dorsal hairs are long and soft; ventral hairs are short and white or pale. Face and throat are grayish. It is distinguished from species of Petaurista and other genera offlying squirrels by its grooved upperincisors. Nominate melanopterus is smaller, with pelage duller sandy buff above and dull white, washed slightly with buff, below. Subspecies szechuanensis is larger, with darker pelage; upper parts are dark grayish drab; and underparts are duller buffy white. <b>Habitat.</b> Montane or subalpine coniferous forests at elevations of 2500-3000 m. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> There is no information available for this species. <b>Breeding.</b> There is no information available for this species. <b>Activity patterns.</b> There is no specific information available for this species, but the Northern Chinese Flying Squirrel is nocturnal and arboreal. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> There is no information available for this species. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Current population trend of the Northern Chinese Flying Squirrel is decreasing. Decline may approach 30% during the next ten years due to deforestation and timber harvesting, perhaps approaching Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. In China, it has been regionally Red Listed as endangered. Very little information is available on its current status and distribution, and additional studies must be undertaken to better understand its ecology, natural history, and conservation threats. <b>Bibliography.</b> Jackson (2012), Jackson &amp; Thorington (2012), Lee Peifen &amp; Liao Chienyu (1998), Smith &amp; Johnston (2008a), Smith &amp; Yan Xie (2008q), Thorington et al. (2012), Tong Haowen (2007), Wang Yuchin et al. (1966), Xiang Zuofu et al. (2004), Yu Fahong (2002).
description: Published as part of <i>Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr &amp; Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Sciuridae, pp. 648-837 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on pages 778-779, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6840226