144.

Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista mechukaensis

French: Pétauriste de Mechuka / German: Mechuka-Riesengleithornchen / Spanish: Ardilla voladora gigante de Mechuka

Taxonomy. Petaurista mechukaensis Choudhury, 2009,

“Mechuka, W Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from the Mechuka Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, NE India.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 460-530 mm,tail 520-770 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrelis large and has deep chestnutblack dorsal color. Dorsal hairs are gray at bases but black or chestnut-brown at tips. There are chestnut patches on sides of patagium, excluding edges that begin just behind forefeet and continue for one-third of length of patagium. Patches gradually merge with dorsal color. Head is similar color to dorsum and has whorl of hair in center of top of head. Underparts are orange-buff. Throat has some whitish color, and there is grayish tinge near base oftail

on underside. Tail is blackish overall, but basal one-half is more deep gray. Feet are black.

Habitat. Temperate broadleaf and coniferous forest at high elevations of 1800-2000 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrel is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Not yet assessed on The [UCN Red List. No information is available on population trends of or threats to the Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrel. More surveys and basic research on its distribution, population status, and natural history are needed to better understand threats and useful conservation action.

Bibliography. Choudhury (2007 2009b, 2013a).