Possible Namdapha Flying Squirrel
The pictures below are of a flying squirrel seen in Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh, in November 2025. The genus Biswamoyopterus was described from a single specimen obtained in Namdapha in 1981 and has subsequently not been seen except perhaps one photographic record. There have been numerous articles in newspapers and online claiming to have refound it but the variety of squirrels posing in those photos as the putative Biswamoyopterus defies belief. Among the very large flying squirrels of the region the genus Biswamoyopterus differs from Petaurista in a number of skeletal characteristics which of course we can’t see in living specimens. Except one – the characteristically depressed rostrum which in a living animal shows as a more even slope from ears to nose, as opposed to the very pug-nosed appearance of Petaurista squirrels. Thus Petaurista show a sudden curvature downwards not far in front of the eye. The other easily noticeable feature distinguishing Biswamoyopterus from Petaurista is the presence of ear-tufts and these are clearly visible in the photograph especially the anterior ones which are clearly white. The tail beyond uropatagium in B. biswasi is pale smoky grey, with a dark tip, according to Quan Li et al 2019. Another Biswamoyopterus was discovered in Laos in 2015 and since Chinese researchers Quan Li et al 2019) have discovered two more specimens not far across the border. What the specimens are is open to question. They seem to represent 4 different species (in only 4 specimens) but I guess they may all be the same.
Its hard to be sure with flying squirrels, their taxonomy seems little understood. But those big white ear tufts for me look like Biswamoyopterus. Any thoughts?
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