Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel

Todd Sain Sr.

8 years ago

Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel, Biswamoyopterus laoensis

Source: https://bit.ly/3lSOtnN Public Domain Image

Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel Facts

Firstly, no living example of the Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel has ever been photographed. Therefore, all images in this article consist of related species used to provide a general idea of the appearance of the animal.
This creature also constitutes a recently discovered new species of flying squirrel. An international team of biologists discovered this remarkable animal in Asia, in 2013.
Due to this, very little detailed information remains available about this enigmatic and never photographed creature. Lastly, the new species was actually first discovered accidentally when its body was seen by a researcher at a local bush meat market in Laos.

Viscacha North American Beaver Chinchilla

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Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel Physical Description

The Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel indeed ranks as a giant among similar species. It also has a rather astonishing overall length of roughly 42 in (1.1 m). The body measures roughly 18 in (45.7 cm), and the tail averages about 24 in (61 cm) in length.

Further, its tail and upper body show predominantly a mixture of black, gray, and a dark reddish-brown in color. The underbelly of the animal also primarily appears whitish-gray in color.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Biswamoyopterus
Species: B. laoensis

Source: https://bit.ly/2Jhisng
Photographer: Umeshsrinivasan
CC License: https://bit.ly/1p2b8Ke

Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel Distribution and Habitat

The exact extent of the habitat range of the Laotian Giant Flying Squirrel also remains unknown. These arboreal creatures so far appear to be extremely rare, however.

To date, the only known reported sightings of this previously unknown creature occurred in two protected and rather isolated areas. These happened in the Nam Kading National Biodiversity Conservation Area, and the Khammouane Limestone National Biodiversity Conservation Area.

Given the nature of the area, experts consider it likely that this animal inhabits regions of either pristine dry evergreen forest or semi-evergreen forest.