Logo: Gliding mammals of the world

The world’s gliding mammals are an extraordinary group of animals that have the ability to glide from tree to tree with seemingly effortless grace. There are more than 60 species of gliding mammals including the flying squirrels from Europe and North America, the scaly-tailed flying squirrels from central Africa and the gliding possums of Australia and New Guinea.

Sipora Flying Squirrel

Sipora Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes sipora
Hylopetes sipora

Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae, Pteromyini

Description: Similar in colouration to the Arrow-tailed Flying Squirrel, its tail is almost uniformly dull brownish-black, with the base slightly paler, browner in general colour, but not markedly bi-coloured.

Distribution: Restricted to Sipura Island, Mentawai Islands, west of Sumatra.

Reproduction: Nothing is known.

Diet: Nothing is known.

Ecology: Nothing is known.

Status: Endangered.

Note: This species has been the subject of considerable debate because it was described from an immature animal as a subspecies of the Arrow-tailed Flying Squirrel, then included in the Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel by various authors and ultimately as a species in its own right by others. An adult specimen is needed to clarify its status.

Sipora Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes sipora
Sipora Flying Squirrel
Hylopetes sipora
Distribution: Sipora Flying Squirrel
HBc. 140 mm
TLc. 160 mm
HFc. 80 mm
Mc. 89 g

Other species:


Grey-cheeked Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes platyurus
Grey-cheeked Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes platyurus

Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes spadiceus
Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes spadiceus

Sumatran Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes winstoni
Sumatran Flying Squirrel

Hylopetes winstoni

Random species

Philippine Colugo / Cynocephalus volans

Philippine Colugo
Cynocephalus volans

Particolored Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes alboniger

Particolored Flying Squirrel
Hylopetes alboniger

Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel / Petaurista leucogenys

Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel
Petaurista leucogenys


Gliding Mammals of the World provides, for the first time, a synthesis of all that is known about the biology of these intriguing mammals. It includes a brief description of each species, together with a distribution map and a beautiful full-color painting.

An introduction outlines the origins and biogeography of each group of gliding mammals and examines the incredible adaptations that allow them to launch themselves and glide from tree to tree.