112 Petaurista elegansPetaurista elegans (Müller, 1840)
Spotted Giant Flying Squirrel
description: A relatively small member of the genus, P.
elegans is distinguished by the presence of white dorsal
spots against a dark gray, yellowish gray, or brown dorsum.
The tail is similar in color to the dorsal pelage, but not spot-
ted. The patagium (“wing”) is reddish orange, and the ven-
tra l pelage is orange to brown. The rump and base of the tail
are reddish brown.
size: Female—HB 332.8 mm; T 363.3 mm; Mass 759.8 g.
Male—HB 330.3 mm; T 355.0 mm; Mass 948.0 g.
Sex not stated—HB 346.7 mm; T 366.4 mm; Mass
1040.0 g.
distribution: The spotted giant fl ying squirrel occurs in
Nepal, Sikkim (India), Bhutan, Yunnan and Guangxi (China),
extreme northeastern India, northern and western Myan-
mar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra
and Java (Indonesia), and Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia) on
the island of Borneo. The current distribution, similar to that
of P. petaurista, is considered to be a result of lower sea levels
(200 m) and tectonic events during the Pliocene–Pleistocene
that allowed dispersal throughout the Sundaic region.
geographic variation: Eight subspecies are recognized
here. Distribution records from Laos and Vietnam were
identifi ed only at the species level.P. e. elegans—Java (excluding Mount Slamat). See description
above.
P. e. banksi— Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia). The top of the
head, the neck, and the back are glossy black fl ecked
with white. The tail is black and chestnut. The patagium
is deep chestnut with tawny rufous below. The under-
parts are paler, an ochraceous rufous. The edges of the
feet are black. There are dark rings around the eyes, and
there is a small black spot on the chin.
P. e. caniceps— Nepal, Sikkim (India), and Bhutan. There is
some question whether this is a distinct species (see Pe-
tau rista caniceps), or a subspecies.
P. e. marica—Yunnan and Guangxi (China) and northern
Thailand. It has light upperparts with a few white spots
on the back, an orange brown tail, and brown feet.
P. e. punctatus—southern part of Thailand, on the Malay Pen-
insula. It has dark upperparts with many white spots, a
black tail, and black feet.
P. e. slamatensis—Mount Slamat (Central Java). The black
grizzled color on the upper head, neck, and back contin-
ues into a black line down the back to the base of the tail.
The feet are reddish brown. The throat is lighter in color
than in the other subspecies. There is a black band over
the toes, proximal of the nails.
P. e. sumatrana—Pandang Highlands (West Sumatra, Indo-
nesia). This form is similar to P. e. punctatus, but P. e. su-
matrana is fl ecked with far fewer white spots. The spots
are almost absent on the head, neck, shoulders, rump,
thighs, and basal part of the tail.
P. e. sybilla—India, west of Kindat (Myanmar). This form is
similar to P. e. marica, but P. e. sybilla is smaller. It has been
considered to be a distinct species.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.habitat: The spotted giant fl ying squirrel is found in tem-
perate montane coniferous forests wit h an understor y of rho-
dodendron (Rhododendron), as well as in tropical evergreen
forests. In the western part of its range it is found at eleva-
tions of 3000–4000 m. In western Malaysia it often occurs at
much lower elevations (from 200 to 3000 m) in primary for-
ests and those in which some timbering has occurred. It ap-
pears to be less common near human settlements.natural history: Common and locally abundant, the spot-
ted giant fl ying squirrel nests in hollows or on rocky ledges,