Geographic Range
Petinomys setosus
exhibits an expansive distribution throughout much of Southeast Asia including several
isolated populations. The recognized areas of distribution are northwestern and southern
Thailand, northern and eastern Myanmar, Sumatra, the northern third of Borneo, the
southern peninsular Malaysia, and most recently Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
- Biogeographic Regions
- oriental
Habitat
Petinomys setosus
are rather adaptable; they have been located in a variety of habitats including wet
tropical rainforests as well as dry deciduous and monsoonal forests. They are particularly
inclined to inhabit primary forests but have also been documented in partially cut
forests. There are additional reports suggesting
P. setosus
may occupy areas near fruit and rubber plantations.
- Habitat Regions
- tropical
- Terrestrial Biomes
- forest
- rainforest
Physical Description
Petinomys setosus
are distinguished by the presence of black rings that encircle the eyes and connect
to the nose via a black streak.
P. setosus
display an admixture of black and brown fur on the dorsal side, accompanied by an
off-white, cream-colored ventral pelage. The tail is flat and displays similar coloring
to the dorsal pelage with patches of white at the base and tip.
The following data are mean values from eight specimens in total, one from Lao PDR,
three from northern Thailand, and four from western Malaysia. Adapted from Sanamxay
et al. 2019:
Mass: 42.40 g
Head and body length: 116 mm
Tail length: 106 mm
Ear length: 14.75 mm
Hindfoot length: 23 mm
Occipitonasal length: 32.12 mm(from Lao PDR specimen only)
Condylobasal length: 28.93 mm
Mastoid breadth: 16.94 mm (from Lao PDR specimen only)
Zygomatic breadth: 19.56 mm (from Lao PDR specimen only)
Zygomatic height: 1.65 mm
Breadth of braincase: 15.68 mm
Braincase height: 10.39 mm
Rostrum breadth: 6.31 mm
Nasal length: 7.36 mm
Maximum width of nasal bones: 4.28 mm
Interorbital breadth: 6.41 mm
Postorbital breadth: 9.25 mm
Length of the incisive foramina: 1.96 mm
Length of bony palate: 9.73 mm
Postpalatal length: 12.64 mm (from Lao PDR specimen only)
Length of auditory bullae: 6.86 mm
Interbullae gap: 2.06 mm (from Lao PDR specimen only)
P3 –M3: 5.29 mm
M2 –M2: 7.53 mm
M1 –M1: 4.68 mm
Mandible length: 17.19 mm
Mandible height: 10.88 mm
P4–M3: 5.34 mm
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- bilateral symmetry
Reproduction
There is no known information regarding mating systems for this species.
There is little known information on reproduction in
Petinomys setosus
. Average litter size is likely 1-2 offspring.
- Key Reproductive Features
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
There is no known information regarding parental investment for this species.
Lifespan/Longevity
There is little known information regarding life span in the wild or in captivity
for this species. The average generation length is estimated to be 3.3 years.
Behavior
Little is known about the behavior of
Petinomys setosus
. Currently there is limited information regarding territory size for this species.
One study found that a specimen from this species preferred isolated habitats away
from human settlements and activities.
Home Range
Currently there is no known information regarding home range for this species.
Communication and Perception
No information about communication is currently known for this species.
Food Habits
Petinomys setosus
has a frugivorous diet of seeds and fruits.
- Plant Foods
- seeds, grains, and nuts
- fruit
Predation
Generally, arboreal mammals with gliding abilities such as
Petinomys setosus
can avoid terrestrial predators by remaining high in trees. Flying squirrels use
canopies of trees as a method of concealment from predators. No predators are currently
known for this species.
Ecosystem Roles
The impacts of
Petinomys setosus
have not been well researched, but many frugivorous squirrels contribute to seed
planting and dispersal.
- Ecosystem Impact
- disperses seeds
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
There are no known positive effects of
Petinomys setosus
on humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse effects of
Petinomys setosus
on humans.
Conservation Status
Petinomys setosus
is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.
Additional Links
Contributors
Ward Chapman (author), Portland State University, Ashley Contreras (author), Portland State University, Kathryn DeWilde (author), Portland State University, Tyler Mohrmann (author), Portland State University, Dana Sheets-Nichols (author), Portland State University, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- rainforest
-
rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.
- arboreal
-
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- frugivore
-
an animal that mainly eats fruit
- granivore
-
an animal that mainly eats seeds
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
References
Clayton, E. 2020. "Temminck's Flying Squirrel" (On-line). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed November 15, 2020 at https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T16739A22241609.en .
Hanski, I. 1998. Home ranges and habitat use in the declining flying squirrel. Wildlife Biology , 4(2): 33-46. Accessed November 16, 2020 at https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.1998.013 .
Hayssen, V. 2008. Reproductive effort in squirrels. Journal of Mammalogy , 89(3): 582-606. Accessed November 16, 2020 at https://doi.org/10.1644/07-MAMM-A-064R2.1 .
Jackson, S. 2012. Gliding Mammals of the World . Australia: CSIRO Publishing.
Sanamxay, D., B. Douangboubpha, V. Xayaphet, P. Paphaphanh, T. Oshida, M. Motokawa. 2019. First record of Petinomys setosus (Rodentia: Sciuridae: Pteromyini) from Lao PDR. The Mammal Society of Japan , 44: 141-146. Accessed November 17, 2020 at https://doi:10.3106/ms2018-0053 .
Thorington Jr, R., J. Koprowski, M. Steele, J. Whatton. 2012. Squirrels of the World . Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press.
Wilson, D., T. Lacher, R. Mittermeier, K. Aplin. 2017. Handbook of the Mammals of the World (Vol. 6) . Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.