other nuts, fruits, leafy vegetation, insects and larvae
Habitat
Dense montane forest
and limestone cliffs at 800 to 3,500 metres above sea level
Range
Central and southern China
as well as Taiwan
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The red and white giant flying squirrels
Impressive gliders
The flying squirrel can glide across the length of five football fields. When gliding, it stretches its limbs to spread out its gliding membrane, a skin flap that extends from wrist to ankle and contains sheets of muscles. To control glide direction and speed, the flying squirrel tenses and relaxes muscles in the membrane. When not in use, the skin flap can be quite cumbersome and is ‘worn’ like a cloak. The squirrel’s long, bushy tail works like a rudder for steering.
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