Anomalure
Encyclopedia
Anomaluridae is a family of rodent
s found in central Africa. They are known as anomalures or scaly-tailed squirrels. There are seven extant species, classified into three genera
. Most are brightly coloured.
All but one species of anomalurids have membranes between their front and hind legs like those of a flying squirrel
, but they are not thought to be closely related to the flying squirrels that form the tribe Petauristini of the family Sciuridae. They are distinguished by two rows of pointed, raised scales on the undersides of their tails. The anatomy of their heads
is quite different from that of the sciurid flying squirrel
s.
Most anomalurid species roost during the day in hollow trees, with up to several dozen animals per tree. They are primarily herbivorous
, and may travel up to 6 km (3.7 mi) from their roosting tree in search of leaves, flowers, or fruit, although they also eat a small amount of insect
s. They give birth to litters of up to three young, which are born already furred and active.
Anomalurids represent one of several independent evolution
s of gliding ability in mammal
s. The others include the true flying squirrel
s of Eurasia
and North America
, colugo
s or flying lemurs of Southeast Asia
, and the gliding phalangers
in Australia
.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s found in central Africa. They are known as anomalures or scaly-tailed squirrels. There are seven extant species, classified into three genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. Most are brightly coloured.
All but one species of anomalurids have membranes between their front and hind legs like those of a flying squirrel
Flying squirrel
Flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...
, but they are not thought to be closely related to the flying squirrels that form the tribe Petauristini of the family Sciuridae. They are distinguished by two rows of pointed, raised scales on the undersides of their tails. The anatomy of their heads
Zygomasseteric system
The zygomasseteric system in rodents is the anatomical arrangement of the masseter muscle of the jaw and the zygomatic arch of the skull...
is quite different from that of the sciurid flying squirrel
Flying squirrel
Flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...
s.
Most anomalurid species roost during the day in hollow trees, with up to several dozen animals per tree. They are primarily herbivorous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
, and may travel up to 6 km (3.7 mi) from their roosting tree in search of leaves, flowers, or fruit, although they also eat a small amount of insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. They give birth to litters of up to three young, which are born already furred and active.
Anomalurids represent one of several independent evolution
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
s of gliding ability in mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s. The others include the true flying squirrel
Flying squirrel
Flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...
s of Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, colugo
Colugo
Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in South-east Asia. There are just two extant species, which make up the entire family Cynocephalidae and order Dermoptera. They are the most capable of all gliding mammals, using flaps of extra skin between their legs to glide from higher to lower...
s or flying lemurs of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, and the gliding phalangers
Sugar Glider
The sugar glider is a small gliding possum originating from the marsupial family.The sugar glider is native to eastern and northern mainland Australia and is also native to New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago.- Habitat :Sugar gliders can be found all throughout the northern and eastern parts of...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Taxonomy
- Family Anomaluridae
- Subfamily Anomalurinae (large anomalures)
- Genus AnomalurusAnomalurusAnomalurus is the largest genus in the rodent family Anomaluridae, with four species. It is the only genus in the subfamily Anomalurinae.- Species :*A. beecrofti - Beecroft's Scaly-tailed Squirrel...
- Beecroft's Flying SquirrelBeecroft's Flying SquirrelThe Beecroft's Flying Squirrel or Beecroft's Scaly-tailed Squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Anomaluridae...
, Anomalurus beecrofti - Lord Derby's Scaly-tailed flying squirrelLord Derby's scaly-tailed flying squirrelLord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel is an anomalurid rodent native to Africa.-Range and habitat:Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel lives in tropical and subtropical rainforests in western and central Africa...
, Anomalurus derbianus - Pel's Flying SquirrelPel's Flying SquirrelPel's Flying Squirrel or Pel's Scaly-tailed Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Anomaluridae family.It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Liberia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat...
, Anomalurus pelii - Dwarf Scaly-tailed SquirrelDwarf Scaly-tailed SquirrelThe Dwarf Scaly-tailed Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Anomaluridae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Uganda....
, Anomalurus pusillus
- Beecroft's Flying Squirrel
- Genus Anomalurus
- Subfamily Zenkerellinae (small anomalures)
- Genus Idiurus
- Long-eared Flying MouseLong-eared Flying MouseThe Long-eared Flying Mouse , or Long-eared Scaly-tailed Flying Squirrel, is a species of flying mouse from western and central Africa. It is not actually a :squirrel, nor a :mouse, though it is a rodent...
, Idiurus macrotis - Pygmy Scaly-tailed Flying SquirrelPygmy Scaly-tailed Flying SquirrelThe Pygmy Scaly-tailed Flying Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Anomaluridae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests....
, Idiurus zenkeri
- Long-eared Flying Mouse
- Genus Zenkerella
- Cameroon Scaly-tailCameroon Scaly-tailThe Cameroon Scaly-tail or Flightless Scaly-tailed Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Anomaluridae family. It is the only species in the genus Zenkerella. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Gabon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests...
, Zenkerella insignis
- Cameroon Scaly-tail
- Genus Idiurus
- Subfamily Anomalurinae (large anomalures)