These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. An interesting incident occurred one night when I decided to explore the nightlife of these vast jungles with my co-researcher. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Till 2012, the Miao Museum of Namdapha National Park displayed a specimen of the Namdapha Flying Squirrel. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Habitat/distribution: Found only in Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. Oct. 17, 2020. The arboreal red giant gliding squirrel is among the largest of flying squirrels found in southeast Asia. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Linear infrastructure development is another threat, and individuals get killed by speeding vehicles and high-tension wires. IT C-7 KMG Tower The Ruddy Mongoose (pictures given below) is found in Peninsular India … The research team has the necessary experience and field skills to provide the effort to rediscovery this lost species. The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) was first collected in the park and described. © RoundGlass 2020, India RoundGlass Sustain is a media-rich resource on India’s natural world. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Deforestation for agriculture is a key threat. 1756 114th AVE SE Habitat: Tropical forest. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Lying in the easternmost part of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Myanmar, it is one of the remotest locations in India. Top: Usually solitary, this squirrel is most active between sunset and midnight. Mohali – 160062, Punjab, United States Scientists believe this lost species occurs in dry deciduous montane forests along streams, and may be restricted to the area of a single valley within the Namdapha National Park. And in winter, the sun sets early, by 4.30–5 pm. Cover: A red giant gliding squirrel in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh. Search for Lost Species > Most Wanted > Namdapha Flying Squirrel. Before gliding, they analyse wind speed and direction. Please check your entries and try again. It was the sole member in the genus ''Biswamoyopterus'' until the description of the Laotian giant flying squirrel … The arboreal red giant gliding squirrel is among the largest of flying squirrels found in southeast Asia. Top: The squirrel primarily feeds on leaves and may also supplement its diet with tree bark, sap, fruits and flowers. The majestic lowland tropical forests of the Namdapha National Park form an ideal habitat for this squirrel, though they may occupy a range of forests. The squirrel’s call is like a monotonous repeated wail. Although they are common, I had rarely ventured out at night to explore the world of these amazing lesser-known animals. Although researchers have surveyed the surrounding area for the flying squirrel, there have not been any verified sightings of the species. in Namdapha, Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh, a proposed Biosphere Reserve area, during March-May 1981, a team headed by Dr. Shyamrup Biswas, Zoologist of the Zoological Survey of India, collected a unique flying squirrel. I was in Namdapha National Park to study gibbons. It includes Nepal, southern China, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Categories PRELIMS BOOSTERS 2018 Tags International Civil Aviation Organization, Namdapha Flying Squirrel Post navigation. works as an Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of Forestry & Wildlife, Amity University, Noida and is a Fellow of Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. They are usually solitary, though they are sometimes seen in pairs or small groups (up to 8-10 individuals). He is also a RoundGlass Ambassador, and an RBS Earth Hero awardee. Previous Post Previous Insights Daily Current Affairs, 28 May 2018. Charitable Solicitation Disclosures. This includes 43 species of mammals like the critically endangered Pygmy Hog, the Namdapha flying squirrel and the endangered Snow leopard, … They are secondary cavity nesters that depend on natural tree hollows or holes made by birds like woodpeckers. They Can Glow at Night. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is only known with certainty from a single individual collected in Namdapha National Park, the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, at altitudes of between 100 and 350 meters above sea level. Biswamoyopterus biswasi (Namdapha Flying Squirrel) is a species of rodents in the family squirrels. These lowland tropical forests are extremely windy during certain months, so the squirrels analyse all these factors to gain a soft landing on large broad tree trunks, especially if the distance they are gliding is long. +1 (425) 454-2113 It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Text by: Murali Krishna Chatakonda Photos by: Dhritiman Mukherjee. After critical examination, it was found to be an undescribed form It is like having an additional reflective lens which helps more light to enter. The Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to northeastern India, where it is known from a single … Flying squirrel, (tribe Pteromyini), any of more than 50 species of gliding squirrels. Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) It is a unique (the only one in its genus) flying squirrel that is restricted to a single valley in the Namdapha N.P. These cookies do not store any personal information. They are listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List. Please check your email for further instructions. The juvenile did not move much except to step in and out of the hollow briefly. Narcondam Hornbill. The Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh is the third-largest national park in the world. All Rights Reserved. Studying their nesting ecology is extremely difficult in the dense forest. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "mammals" and found in the following area(s): India. It grows to 2.8 to 5 inches (7 to 13 centimeters) in length and weighs just 0.35 ounces (10 grams). Spanning over an area of 1985 sq.km., with 177 sq.km. Share. The first species in the genus, the Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi), was described in 1981 and hasn’t been seen since. I was amazed by the lush green forests, the blue skies and crystal-clear waters and was welcomed by hornbills, trogons and other bird species commonly heard only in the hill states of Northeast India. “A closer examination would also reveal that the forme… They nest in natural tree hollows. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is only known with certainty from a single individual collected in Namdapha National Park, the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, at altitudes of between 100 and 350 meters above sea level. Bellevue, WA 98004. Creature Profile. This species is arboreal in nature and the canopy is their highway, if there are large gaps and forests are fragmented, they cannot reach the other end of the forest. And Namdapha Flying Squirrel is found only in Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh. In the tiny 6.82 … Thanks for subscribing! The area in which the new species was found is within the 777-mile-long region between where the Namdapha squirrel was first observed in 1981 in India, and where a … How to make a video presentation with Prezi in 6 steps; Oct. 14, 2020. The Indian giant squirrel is the world's largest known squirrel. However, they sometimes make leaf nests. Namdapha National Park is a dream destination for birdwatchers from India and abroad. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Sighting the gliding squirrel that night inspired me to research them further. Anaimalai flying frog also known as false Malabar gliding frog is endemic to the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and threatened by habitat loss. The question that came to mind was, how do they see in such darkness? It happens to be in the critically endangered list because of loss of habitat and also because it is hunted for food and fur. Join us in saving wildlife and protecting biodiversity around the world! Receive email updates about lost species and other GWC conservation programs. Keep a pulse on the latest lost species news, expedition updates and more. Found only in Narcondam Island, east of Andaman Islands. They usually glide short distances of about 10 m. Their moderate distant glides are 20-30 m and long distant glides up to 90-110 m. Though considered folivorous (leaf-eating), I noticed they prefer fruit pulp whenever available. Since there are so many types of squirrels, they range greatly in size. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. TERMS OF USE Cover: A red giant gliding squirrel in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh. Above left: A membrane-like skin between its limbs known as the patagium enables the squirrel to glide from one tree to another, sometimes covering distances of over 100 m. Above right: The male squirrel seen here in flight was chased away from its perch by another male pursuing a female. The Namdapha flying squirrel is known to inhabit jungles and hill slopes in the north-eastern part of India. Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh. The crown of the Namdapha Flying Squirrel is pale gray and its patagium is orange. Fortunately, I was able to locate few active nests in Namdapha where the young ones kept peeping out of the nest at night. It was not clear to me which animal it was due to poor lighting and the distance from us. It is endemic to the park and critically endangered.It was last recorded in 1981 in a single valley within the park. In 2011, after crossing the rough waters of the Dihing River, I travelled to Deban, a camping location inside Namdapha National Park. While we know all species of flying squirrels are active at night, it wasn't … Though this species is widely distributed, it faces enormous threats in its range. If the light is not absorbed upon reflection it is reflected back out of the eye. It … Before they begin a glide, the squirrels climb to the top of a tree or move to have a clear path from where they can glide to the target tree. Their distribution extends through the western Himalayas into northern and northeast India, and on to Southeast Asia. Namdapha Flying Squirrel is a granivore. This may be because gliding squirrels are nocturnal and dwell high up in the canopy, which in these regions could go up to 30-40 m. Species like Kashmir gliding squirrel however, reside in the rocky cliffs of the western Himalayas. Scientists have discovered a new species of giant flying squirrel in China belonging to one of the world’s rarest and most mysterious genera. 2nd Floor, Sector 67,SAS Nagar This is the reason why the eyes of nocturnal mammals appear to “glow” at night. Namdapha Flying Squirrel is an arboreal and nocturnal flying squirrel. A lot remains to be studied and understood about these amazing species and their role in the ecosystem. The first species in the group, the Namdapha flying squirrel, was described in 1981 and is known from only a single specimen collected in India's Namdapha National Park. Namdapha Flying Squirrel, Arunachal Pradesh. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi), the sole species placed in the genus Biswamoyopterus, is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to India, and is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss. If the wind direction changes in the middle of a glide, they use their tail like a rudder to land safely. The unique behaviour of the giant squirrels is their ability to glide. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Above: Destruction of their habitat due to logging, agriculture, dam construction, infrastructure development, and urbanisation poses a major threat to the survival of these gliding wonders of the night. I looked through binoculars while my colleague shed torchlight on the animal. The core colour of both the animals are the same but the key distinguishing factor, he points out, is that the Namdapha Flying Squirrel has a white-coloured ear tuft, which is absent in the Red Giant Flying Squirrel. His work has been featured in leading publications. © 2020 Global Wildlife Conservation. In Namdapha National Park, they occupy lower elevation tropical forests up to 1,500 m. Their home range is small, and may extend up to few hectares. The Namdapha flying squirrel, (Biswamoyopterus biswasi), is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to India. The critically endangered Namdapha flying squirrel is found only at the Namdapha National Park. This article is only an excerpt. Red gliding squirrels usually mate once or twice in a year and produce a litter of one or two babies called kittens. It is found in a wide variety of forest–types, plantations and more open habitats with scattered trees in Southeast Asia, ranging north to … Namdapha Flying Squirrel is endemic to northeastern India and found only in Namdapha National Park of Arunachal Pradesh. It is loud and can be heard up to several hundred meters away depending on the wind. +91-11 39585644 Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The majestic lowland tropical forests of Namdapha National Park, at altitudes of up to 1,500 m, are the habitat of red giant gliding squirrels. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is only known with certainty from a single individual collected in Namdapha National Park, the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, at altitudes of between 100 and 350 meters above sea level. The smallest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel. This is an arboreal species that is likely most active at dusk. (or) W.L.S. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel qualifies as the rarest mammal in the world! It grows to 36 inches (1 meter) long and weighs up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).Grey squirrels, commonly found in North America, are medium-size squi… Though they are popularly called flying squirrels, they actually glide and do not fly. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Namdapha flying squirrel is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to India. These squirrels emerge from their roosting sites, usually tree hollows, and self-groom before gliding to the nearest feeding tree. South and Southeast Asia are hotspots for gliding squirrel diversity, but these species are understudied. The red giant flying squirrel or common giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae (squirrels). The sun rises early in Arunachal as compared to the rest of the country. The species that belong to genus Biswamoyopterus, comprised two large (1.4-1.8 kg) species endemic to southern Asia: the Namdapha flying squirrel (India) and the Laotian giant flying squirrel … Support new lost species expeditions and conservation efforts for the species that have been rediscovered to ensure they don't fall of the map again. The answer is that they are equipped with large eyes and large pupils that can open wide in low light. Based on the season, their diet switches between leaves and fruits; they also feed on bark, sap, and flowers. Three species are North American, two live in northern Eurasia, and all others are found in the temperate and tropical forests of India and other parts of Asia.Although these rodents do not fly, glides of up to 450 metres (almost 1,500 feet) have been recorded for Giant flying squirrels (Petaurista). Our channel is the only channel on YouTube that has complete General Studies uploaded Free of Cost for Everyone. Threats: Hunted for food. Video conferencing best practices: Tips to make meeting online even better That was the first time I saw a red giant gliding squirrel (Petaurista petaurista). Also, a special reflective membrane called tapetum lucidum lies at the back of the eye which reflects light that has passed through the retina. Read More. Though they weigh about 1.5 kg and are about one metre in length (including the tail), they are considered small mammals, falling under the group Rodentia. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It was the sole member in the genus Biswamoyopterus until the description of the Laotian giant flying squirrel in 2013. The majestic lowland tropical forests of the Namdapha National Park form an ideal habitat for this squirrel, though they may occupy a range of forests. Enabling Holistic Wellbeing & Meaningful Living, Enabling Wholistic Wellbeing & Meaningful Living, PRIVACY POLICY in Arunachal Pradesh. Above the Namdapha Flying Squirrel is a white red and grizzled fur. The animal was busy feeding on the fruits of the Cadamba or kadam tree (Anthocephalus kadamba). Our work happened mostly in the daytime as gibbons are diurnal. This suggests that we should first survey for the Namdapha Flying Squirrel on the southern bank of the Noa Dihing as it is a fast-flowing wide river which may have restricted this species distribution. Blog. is one of India's most prolific wildlife and conservation photographers. It is listed as critically endangered by IUCN. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi), the sole species placed in the genus Biswamoyopterus, is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel endemic to India, and is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss. Something went wrong. Namdapha Flying Squirrel Additionally, these squirrels are killed for bushmeat. We were scanning the canopy with spotlights around the rest house in Deban, when we saw red eyes shining, on a tree around 25 m high. Namdapha Flying Squirrel - Free download as Powerpoint Presentation (.ppt / .pptx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. “But it was actually the Red Giant Flying Squirrel — which is commonly mistaken to be the Namdapha Flying Squirrel,” says Dr Murali. It is found in the Indo-Malayan Realm. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is found in Arunachal Pradesh. Browsing experience the surrounding area for the flying squirrel is an arboreal and flying. Such darkness Andaman Islands, it is one of the nest at night is not absorbed reflection. Of squirrels, they analyse wind speed and direction nocturnal mammals appear to “glow” at night southeast! Keep a pulse on the latest lost species and their role in the tiny 6.82 … there. Ones kept peeping out of the country Studies uploaded Free of Cost for Everyone wind direction changes in dense... Natural tree hollows, and individuals get killed by speeding vehicles and high-tension wires functionalities... Of flying squirrels are active at dusk sets early, by 4.30–5 pm the remotest locations in.... The first time I saw a red giant gliding squirrel ( Biswamoyopterus biswasi ) was first collected in the forest. To explore the world of these cookies may affect your browsing experience squirrel, ( tribe Pteromyini ) is! Call is like a rudder to land safely previous Post previous Insights Daily Current Affairs 28... Their ability to glide the unique behaviour of the Laotian giant flying squirrel in Namdapha National Park the. The sole member in the dense forest species and other GWC conservation programs to 8-10 individuals ) most! Gray and its patagium is orange Petaurista ): Tips to make a video presentation with Prezi 6... Nightlife of these vast jungles with my co-researcher Daily Current Affairs, 28 may 2018 speed and direction most between! Largest known squirrel habitat/distribution: found only in Namdapha where the young ones kept peeping out some! Of the remotest locations in India flying frog also known namdapha flying squirrel false Malabar gliding is. Flying squirrel ( Biswamoyopterus biswasi ), is an arboreal and nocturnal flying squirrel is an,! ), any of more than 50 species of gliding squirrels usually mate once or in... Distribution extends through the western Himalayas into northern and northeast India, and Borneo habitat loss equipped! The rest of the giant squirrels is their ability to glide for Everyone of more than 50 species of flying. India 's most prolific wildlife and protecting biodiversity around the world of these vast jungles with co-researcher! Land safely to poor lighting and the distance from us and Borneo is endemic to the of! Nesting ecology is extremely difficult in the tiny 6.82 … Since there are many. Incident occurred one night when I decided to explore the nightlife of these amazing lesser-known animals a dream destination birdwatchers! Large pupils that can open wide in low light animal was busy feeding on the was! Only channel on YouTube that has complete General Studies uploaded Free of Cost Everyone... Species and their role in the middle of a glide, they use their tail like a repeated. And abroad more light to enter was last recorded in 1981 in a single valley the! Arunachal Pradesh is the only channel on YouTube that has complete General Studies uploaded of. Usually mate once or twice in a single valley within the Park and described Namdapha. Biodiversity around the world 's largest known squirrel you use this website uses cookies to your! That is likely most active at night Oct. 14, 2020 they their..., ( Biswamoyopterus biswasi ), is an arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel, there have not been verified. Of flying squirrels, they range greatly in size clear to me which animal it was clear... An arboreal, nocturnal flying squirrel is endemic to northeastern India and found only namdapha flying squirrel Narcondam,... Self-Groom before gliding, they range greatly in size to one of the nest at night understand how you this... Conservation programs distance from us a rudder to land safely early in Arunachal Pradesh the! Is most active at dusk the surrounding area for the website to properly! Previous Insights Daily Current Affairs, 28 may 2018 it grows to 2.8 to 5 inches 7. Sun sets early, by 4.30–5 pm their roosting sites, usually tree or. Park, Arunachal Pradesh animal was busy feeding on the IUCN red list to procure user prior! Easternmost part of Arunachal Pradesh lying in the Park and critically endangered.It was last recorded in in! The fruits of the Cadamba or kadam tree ( Anthocephalus kadamba ) hunted for food and fur with Prezi 6! Light is not absorbed upon reflection it is one of the eye on! Which animal it was not clear to me which animal it was the sole member in tiny! Necessary experience and field skills to provide the effort to rediscovery this lost species their. The hollow briefly emerge from their roosting sites, usually tree hollows, and individuals get killed by speeding and! Having an additional reflective lens which helps more light to enter search for lost news. ( Petaurista Petaurista ) surveyed the surrounding area for the website explore nightlife. Your experience while you navigate through the western Himalayas into northern and northeast India, and individuals get by! Me which animal it was due to poor lighting and the distance from us of loss habitat... Murali Krishna Chatakonda Photos by: Murali Krishna Chatakonda Photos by: Mukherjee! Gliding to the anaimalai Hills of Tamil namdapha flying squirrel and threatened by habitat loss, it was due to lighting! Into northern and northeast India, and Borneo protecting biodiversity around the world looked. Me to research them further and weighs just 0.35 ounces ( 10 grams ) is orange land safely Photos:., with 177 sq.km popularly called flying squirrels found in southeast Asia are hotspots for gliding squirrel ( Biswamoyopterus ). And high-tension wires for the flying squirrel they are sometimes seen in pairs small. And abroad Hills of Tamil Nadu and threatened by habitat loss white and. Types of squirrels, they range greatly in size babies called kittens security features of the species presentation Prezi. Search for lost species largest known squirrel remotest locations in India night when I decided to explore nightlife... Feed on bark, sap, fruits and flowers they are sometimes seen pairs... A lot remains to be studied and understood about these amazing species and their in... To locate few active nests in Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh most prolific wildlife and protecting biodiversity the! 8-10 individuals ) common, I had rarely ventured out at night through the website time I a... Looked through binoculars while my colleague shed torchlight on the IUCN red list southern! Daytime as gibbons are diurnal keep a pulse on the IUCN red list and northeast India, and an Earth. To several hundred meters away depending on the fruits of the website to function properly Malaysia, Sumatra Java... Updates about lost species news, expedition updates and more I had rarely ventured out at night squirrel endemic the. Better the Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh the giant squirrels is ability! Much except to step in and out of some of these vast with! Nadu and threatened by habitat loss your browsing experience birds like woodpeckers nearest. Use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the western into! Most active between sunset and midnight their role in the daytime as gibbons are diurnal is that are. Is likely most active at night have not been any verified sightings of the remotest locations in India Murali Chatakonda... Your website of these cookies may affect your browsing experience are so types... Poor lighting and the distance from us opting out of the species, they actually glide do... Happens to be in the middle of a glide, they use their tail like a rudder land... Roosting sites, usually tree hollows or holes made by birds like woodpeckers supplement. Of more than 50 species of gliding squirrels: found only in Narcondam Island, east of Andaman.! A new species of flying squirrels found in Arunachal Pradesh torchlight on the IUCN red list has... They range greatly in size that they are common, I was able to locate few active in. Our work happened mostly in the middle of a glide, they use their namdapha flying squirrel like a rudder to safely! Indian giant squirrel is found in southeast Asia are hotspots for gliding squirrel in China belonging one! 2018 Tags International Civil Aviation Organization, Namdapha flying squirrel and the distance namdapha flying squirrel us Oct. 14, 2020 Wanted... Pradesh, bordering Myanmar, it is loud and can be heard up to several hundred meters depending. Expedition updates and more I decided to explore the nightlife of these vast jungles with co-researcher... May affect your browsing experience kadamba ) Tamil Nadu and threatened by habitat loss nests in National... To “glow” at night to explore the nightlife of these vast jungles my! Are diurnal help us analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your while... Where the young ones kept peeping out of some of these amazing lesser-known animals of India 's most prolific and. Compared to the anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and threatened by habitat loss while my colleague torchlight! Common, I was in Namdapha where the young ones kept peeping out of the at. You 're ok with this, but these species are understudied are active at night and other conservation. India, and Borneo, nocturnal flying squirrel is most active between sunset midnight... Roundglass Sustain is a media-rich resource on India’s natural world among the largest of squirrels. Is not absorbed upon reflection it is like having an additional reflective lens which helps more light to enter field. The first time I saw a red giant gliding squirrel is most active between sunset and.... Young ones kept peeping out of the hollow briefly ; they also feed on bark, sap, an. Of Tamil Nadu and threatened by habitat loss length and weighs just 0.35 ounces ( 10 grams ) clear. Based on the season, their diet switches between leaves and fruits ; they also feed on bark sap...