96 Glaucomys volansreports of chromosome diff erences, a zone of hybridization
between G. volans and G. sabrinus has been reported in On-
tario (Canada) and Pennsylvania (USA). The hybrids are in-
termediate in size and pelage characteristics.
size: Female—HB 132.5 mm; T 103.0 mm; Mass 57.6 g.
Male—HB 131.1 mm; T 103.1 mm; Mass 53.2 g.
Sex not stated—HB 134.0 mm; T 100.3 mm; Mass 70.0 g.
distribution: This species ranges from Nova Scotia (Can-
ada) southward across the eastern half of the USA. It also
occurs on isolated mountains from northwestern México to
Honduras.
geographic variation: Eleven subspecies are recognized.
G. v. volans—Canada and USA, in the “northeastern USA
and extreme southern Canada, from central Minnesota,
Wisconsin, and Michigan, southern Ontario, northern
New York state (Lewis County), and southern New
Hampshire south to North Carolina (Raleigh), Tennessee
(Nashville), and northern Arkansas and Oklahoma (Bos-
ton Mountains); west to eastern Nebraska (Otoe and
Nemaha counties) and eastern Kansas (Douglas and
Woodson counties)” (Howell). This subspecies is known
as the small eastern fl ying squirrel. See description
above.
G. v. chontali—Santo Domingo Chontecomatlán, Yautepec
District (Oaxaca, México). This form is the most brightly
colored, with its upperparts ochraceous tawny and the
dorsal surface of the patagium blackish brown. The dor-
sal surface of the tail is similar in color to the back, but
darker. The underparts are white, with a pinkish buff
tinge on the underside of the limbs. The ventral surface
of the tail is a clear cinnamon buff.
G. v. goldmani—mountain slopes of Chiapas (México). This
form is relatively large, with sayal brown upperparts.
The underparts are creamy white irregularly washed
with pinkish buff.
G. v. guerreroensis—Sierra Madre del Sur (Guerrero, México).
This form is the darkest of the Mexican and Central
American fl ying squirrels. It is dark brownish dorsally,
blackish on the upper patagium, and creamy white on
the venter.
G. v. herreranus—mountains of southern México, in south-
ern Tamaulipas, southeastern San Luis Potosí, Queré-
taro, Michoacán, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. It is similar in
coloring to G. v. goldmani, but G. v. herreranus is darker,
the darkest of the subspecies. The upper part of the pata-
gium is a deep glossy black.
G. v. madrensis—Sierra Madre Occidental (Chihuahua,
México). This form is similar in coloring to G. v. texensis,
but G. v. madrensis is paler, with the upperparts overlain
with buff y gray. The underparts are white, tinged with
pale buff on the underside of the patagium.
G. v. oaxacensis—Pacifi c side of southern México, in the
highlands of Oaxaca. It is similar to G. v. goldmani, but G.
v. oaxacensis is paler dorsally, with a pinkish buff tone.
G. v. querceti—peninsular Florida and the coastal region of
Georgia (USA). Known as the Florida fl ying squirrel, this
form is da rker t ha n G. v. volans, but lighter than G. v. satu-
ratus. The toes are not conspicuously white.
G. v. saturatus—in the “southeastern United States (except-
ing peninsular Florida and the coast region of Georgia)
from South Carolina and western North Carolina west to
central Oklahoma and north in the Mississippi Valley to
southwestern Kentucky” (Howell). Known as the south-
eastern fl ying squirrel, its upperparts are darker, snuff
brown to hair brown; the toes are not conspicuously
white.
G. v. texensis—eastern Texas (USA). Known as the Texas fl y-
ing squirrel, this form has more ochraceous upperparts,
wood brown with yellowish tinge varying to drab, that
are less dark than in G. v. saturatus.
G. v. underwoodi—mountains of southern Guatemala and
Honduras. It is similar in coloring to G. v. goldmani, but
G. v. underwoodi is paler, with a pale sayal brown
coloring.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.habitat: Throughout much of its range, G. volans is associ-
ated with oak-hickory (Quercus, Carya) forests, and the hard
mast forms an important part of its diet. In the northern
part of its range, this species also occurs in mixed decidu-
ous-conifer forests. In the southern Appalachian Moun-
tains, it can be found as high as 1500 m. From México south-
ward, it usually inhabits oak-conifer associations in the
mount a ins, at elevat ions of 1200–3000 m. This species is a lso
common in coastal pine-oak (Pinus, Quercus) associations of
the eastern and southeastern USA. Studies of its microhabi-
tat use show a preference for areas with higher densities of
shrubs, reduced understory cover, and more tree cavities.natural history: This species feeds mostly on nuts, seeds,
and fruits, but it also includes fungi, lichens, moss, and bark
in its diet. G. volans is considered by some to be highly car-
nivorous, as it consumes animal material when it is avail-
able. Nuts and seeds are both scatter-hoarded on the ground