102 Hylopetes phayreiconservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.
habitat: In southern China, this species is found in mixed
deciduous and lowland montane forests. It is sympatric
with H. alboniger on Hainan Island (China).
natural history: H. phayrei is nocturnal, and it nests in
tree cavities. Little additional information is available on
this species.
general references: A. T. Smith and Xie 2008.
Hylopetes platyurus (Jentink, 1890)
Jentink’s Flying Squirrel
description: Taxonomically confused with H. spadiceus
and H. lepidus in the past, H. platyurus is distinctly smaller in
its overall body dimensions and in at least 21 craniodental
measures than these other two species. In H. platyurus the
cheeks and the base of the tail are gray, as compared with
those of H. spadiceus and H. lepidus, which are more pinkish,
although overlap occurs between the three species. The tail
of H. lepidus is also shorter and narrower than that of the
other two species.
size: Female—HB 130.0 mm; T 100.0 mm.
distribution: Jentink’s fl ying squirrel is found only in
northern Sumatra (Indonesia), peninsular Malaysia, and the
island of Borneo (divided among Malaysia, Brunei Darus-
salam, and Indonesia). Neither the South China Sea nor the
Malacca Strait has been a barrier for H. platyurus.
geographic variation: None.
conservation: IUCN status—data defi cient. Population
trend—no information.habitat: Little is known about this species’ preferred habi-
tat. It is reported from rubber forests, forest edges, and near
human activities; however, it has not been observed in pri-
mary forests.natural history: Little is known about the distribution,
ecology, and behavior of this species.general references: Meijaard 2003a; Muul and Liat 1971;
Rasmussen and Thorington 2008; Thorington and Heaney
1981; Thorington, Musante, et al. 1996.Hylopetes platyurus. Photo courtesy Andy Boyce.
Hylopetes platyurus. Photo courtesy James Eaton / Birdtour
Asia.