98 Glaucomys volansgeneral references: Bendel and Gates 1987; Bishop
2006; Bowman et al. 2005; COSEWIC 2006; Day and Benton
1977; Dolan and Carter 1977; Garroway et al. 2010; E. R. Hall
1981; Harlow and Doyle 1990; Healy and Brooks 1988; D. J.
Holmes and Austad 1994; Krichbaum et al. 2010; Lavers et al.
2006; Laves and Loeb 1999; Leung and Cheng 1997; D. W.
Linzey and Linzey 1979; Mahan et al. 2010; Medlin and
Risch 2006; Merritt et al. 2001; Patrick 1991; Risch and Brady
1996; Risch and Loeb 2004; Sawyer and Rose 1985; Stapp
1992; Stapp et al. 1991; Stone, Heidt, Baltosser, et al. 1996;
Stone, Heidt, Caster, et al. 1997; K. K. Thorington et al. 2010;
Tyler and Donelson 1996; P. D. Weigl 1968, 1978.Hylopetes Thomas, 1908
This genus contains nine species of fl ying squirrels. Despite
previous suggestions, morphometric analyses of the bacula,
foot pads, musculature, teeth, wrist, and ankles validate
three distinct genera (clades) for Eoglaucomys, Glaucomys, and
Hylopetes. Based on fi ve species of Hylopetes, one of which
was H. platyurus, these analyses identifi ed eight derived
characteristics of the genus. Both morphological character-
istics and recent phylogenetic analyses inferred from mito-
chondrial cytochrome b gene sequences in this and six
other genera of fl ying squirrels indicate a close relationship
between Hylopetes and New World fl ying squirrels, Glauco-
mys. These cytochrome b dat a a lso show t hese t wo genera to
be closely related to Petinomys; the data suggest that Glauco-
mys and Hylopetes diverged approximately 28.6 MYA, and
that Glaucomys and Petinomys diverged 29.2 MYA. Petinomys
and Hylopetes are sympatric throughout their ranges, mor-
phologically quite similar (being distinguished by the num-
ber of septa in the auditory bullae), and estimated to have di-
verged during the Pleistocene (2.2 MYA) in Southeast Asia.
Earlier studies considered Eoglaucomys to be a subgenus
of Hylopetes, while others suggested that Glaucomys sabrinus
was more closely related to Hylopetes than to G. volans. More
recent morphological studies (e.g., bacula, foot pads, muscu-
lature, crania, and postcrania) indicate three distinct clades
for Eoglaucomys, Glaucomys, and Hylopetes. Although Hylo-
petes is considered to be declining in ma ny pa r ts of its ra nge,
details on its population biology are not available.Hylopetes alboniger (Hodgson, 1836)
Particolored Flying Squirrel
description: H. alboniger is a relatively small fl ying squir-
rel. The dorsal hair is a medium brown; the sides, dorsal
patagium (“wing”), and legs are dark gray to black. The ven-
ter is white to cream colored. The cheeks and throat are
white; the ventral surface of the tail is dark.
size: Female—HB 223.6 mm; T 202.5 mm.
Male—HB 214.5 mm; T 196.1 mm; Mass 269.3 g.
Sex not stated—HB 214.6 mm; T 187.7 mm; Mass 240.0 g.
distribution: The particolored fl ying squirrel’s range ex-
tends from Nepal and Assam (India) to the Chinese prov-
inces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, and
Zhejiang, and then southward through Indochina to south-
ern Vietnam.
geographic variation: Four subspecies are recognized.
H. a. alboniger—the type locality is the central and northern
regions of Nepal. See description above.
H. a. chianfengensis—island of Hainan (China). We have not
located the description.
H. a. leonardi—northwest Yunnan (China). This form is a
small subspecies. It is blackish buff y above, with pinkish