Flying mouse
Genus of rodents
title: "Flying mouse" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["idiurus", "anomalures", "mammals-of-central-africa", "taxa-named-by-paul-matschie"] description: "Genus of rodents" topic_path: "general/idiurus" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_mouse" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Genus of rodents ::
| image = Britannica Flying-squirrel Pigmy African Flying-Squirrel.png | image_caption = Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel | taxon = Idiurus | authority = Matschie, 1894 | type_species = Idiurus zenkeri | type_species_authority = Matschie, 1894 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Idiurus macrotis
The flying mice, also known as the pygmy scaly-tails, pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels, or pygmy anomalures are not true mice, not true squirrels, and are not capable of true flight. These unusual rodents are essentially miniaturized versions of anomalures and are part of the same sub-Saharan African radiation of gliding mammal.
Characteristics
These animals resemble mice with gliding membranes and long, sparsely-haired tails. Their appearance is similar to some marsupial gliders. They are less than 10 cm (4 inches) in head and body length and weigh 14-35 grams (1/2 - 1.2 oz). They have a morphologically specialized tongue.
Flying mice are nocturnal and are found in the poorly explored tropical forests of central (and to a lesser extent western) Africa. Little is known of their habits as a result. It has been suggested that one or both species may live in colonies of dozens of individuals. Bats may also be found sharing these tree-hollow colonies.
Species
- Long-eared flying mouse (Idiurus macrotis)
- Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel (Idiurus zenkeri)
References
References
- (July 2018). "Flightless scaly-tailed squirrels never learned how to fly: A reappraisal of Anomaluridae phylogeny". Zoologica Scripta.
- (December 2018). "The Tongue Structure in Scaly-Tailed Squirrels (Rodentia, Anomaluridae)". Biology Bulletin.
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