Pteromyscus pulverulentus
smoky flying squirrel

Pteromyscus pulverulentus is found throughout the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and northern Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak).

Pteromyscus pulverulentus primarily occupies lowland primary forests (Niethammer, 1988). It is less common in higher elevations up to 3.000 ft. (Nowak, 1991).

The body length of Pteromyscus pulverulentus ranges from 22 to 29 cm, tail length from 18 to 23 cm, hind foot length from 38 -45 mm, and ear length from 17 to 23 mm (Medway, 1978). Muul and Lim (1971) gave the weight as 134 to 252 g. The dental formula is 1/1 0/0 2/2 3/3. The upperparts are dark brown to blackish, the basal hairs are grey with buffy or whitish subterminal bands, giving a frosted appearance. The underparts are buffy white, the feet are light brown, and the cheeks are grey. The tail exhibits longer hairs on sides than on the top or bottom, giving it a slightly flattened profile, but not as pronounced as in Glaucomys species. The bushy tail is greyish brown with blackish hairs at the tip.

Pteromyscus pulverulentus individuals breed and give birth in Malaysia in all months of the year (Medway, 1978). The litter size is 1 to 2, with an average of 1.3. Litters and pregnant females are found throughout the year, though only in small numbers.

Smoky Flying Squirrels are nocturnal animals and are mainly solitary. In Sabah they spend their days roosting in tree holes 3 to 4 meters above the ground (Payne et. al. 1985).

This species is believed to feed on plant material including leaves, buds, blossoms, and young shoots (Muul and Lim, 1978).

Status: IUCN - Lower risk: near threatened.

Muul (1989, in Nowak, 1991) warned that human exploitation of the primary forest habitat of Pteromyscus could seriously threaten this unique genus, resulting in its disappearance from Thailand and Malaysia.

Aeromys tephromelas, the Black Flying Squirrel, is a similar species. It is larger, with a rounded, fluffy tail, and has greyish, fluffy hair on its underparts (Payne et. al. 1985).