Idiurus zenkeri
pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel

Idiurus zenkeri is found throughout Upper Cameroon to Rio Muni and Northwest Gabon. The range extends from the northeast and east portion of Zaire, east of the Lualaga to Lake Kivu, eastern Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Gabon, Liberia, and west Uganda. (Booth, 1958; Haltenorth and Diller, 1977)

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels are found in the following countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Equatorial Guinea, and Uganda. (Jones, 1971; Kingdon, 1974; Thorington, 2003)

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels are found in moist tropical and subtropical climates. They are arboreal, occurring mainly in forests composed of the following tree taxa: Klainedoxa species, Pseudoprosopis species, Paramacrolobium species, Gilbertiodendron species, and Pentaclethra species. (Jones, 1971; Kingdon, 1974; Thorington, 2003)

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels have a body length from 63 to 75 mm, tail length of 83 to 104 mm, hind foot length of 14 to 17 mm, ear length of 11 to 15 mm, and greatest length of skull of 22 mm. They are the smallest of the scaly-tailed squirrels. They have a feathery tail. Dorsal fur color is grey to brown and ventral fur color is whitish. A gliding membrane is located between the fore and hind limbs. Scaly-tailed squirrels have silky fur, long whiskers, and two rows of pine cone like scales on the underside of their tails. The top of the tail is covered with sparse, 2 cm long hairs. The tail has a row of short (2 to 3 mm), stiff hairs along both sides. The entire underside of the tail is hairless, with a 1.5 to 2.5 cm long rough, scaly patch that extends from the tail base. These scales typically act as anti-skid devices that also provide extra grip while climbing or support when resting. Sharp claws also provide extra grip. The fur is fine, although less dense on the gliding membrane. The elbow has a cartilaginous extension that allows for greater freedom of movement in the upper limbs. (Barnet, 2006; Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Kingdon, 1974; Thorington, 2003)

There is no information known about the longevity of I. zenkeri.

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels are nocturnal, gregarious species that rest in tree hollows or behind peeling bark with other flying squirrels in groups of up to 100 individuals consisting of both sexes and all ages. They climb with agility on smooth tree trunks and jump or glide between tree branches. They can glide up to 3 meters between trees without losing height. ("Flying Mouse", 2006; Barnet, 2006; Corbin and Cordeiro, 2006; Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Kingdon, 1974; Thorington, 2003)

Home Range

Home range size of I. zenkeri is not reported. (Jones, 1971)

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels emit a mouse-like squeak that is heard when individuals are disturbed. Communication by scent is important in anomularids. Large groin glands produce strong smelling secretions. (Barnet, 2006; Haltenorth and Diller, 1977)

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels have large, forward facing eyes that provide excellent binocular vision and relatively large ears that support acute hearing that could include ultrasonic frequencies.

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels are capable of traveling several kilometers in search of food. Foraging behaviors are probably similar to that of Idiurus macrotis. Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels eat fruit, nuts, tree gums, and bark, including oil palm fruits. Anomalurids have relatively long digestive tracts, which allows for the maximum absorption of nutrients. (Barnet, 2006; Haltenorth and Diller, 1977; Thorington, 2003)

There is little information on predators of pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels. Eagles have been known to prey on other scaly-tailed squirrel species and it is likely that birds of prey and arboreal snakes prey on scaly-tailed squirrels. (Barnet, 2006; Thorington, 2003)

Anomularids will chew off the tops of young, non-food tree species, resulting in a reduction of competition for their favored trees species and a change in the composition of forest trees. Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels may also contribute to the dispersal of forest tree seeds when they eat fruit. (Barnet, 2006)

In 1968, four individuals of I. zenkeri were found nesting in a tree on Dipikar Island with two individuals of Anomalurus derbianus. (Jones, 1971)

Scaly-tailed squirrel species will occasionally steal oil palm nuts, but they are not generally considered pest species. (Barnet, 2006)

Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels are important members of their native ecosystems.

In 1996, I. zenkeri was listed as lower risk/near threatened by the IUCN. This species is poorly known and has since been re-categorized as data deficient. Idiurus zenkeri populations are negatively impacted by timber harvesting and destruction of habitat for agriculture. (Jones, 1971; Thorington, 2003)

In order for informed conservation planning, information regarding a number of life history characteristics is required, including: population numbers, distribution, ecological interactions, and reproductive characters.

Studying anomularid species in the field is difficult, not only because they are nocturnal, but also because they are sensitive to the red lights that biologists use at night. Anomularids are not rare; they are only very difficult to study and observe.

Idiurus zenkeri and feather-tailed gliders (Acrobates pygmaeus) are a remarkable example of convergence. (Barnet, 2006; Jones, 1971; Kingdon, 1974)