Japanese dwarf flying squirrel

Japanese dwarf flying squirrel

By Aniela i Klara

The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is an extremely small and fluffy squirrel. It's a native Japanese species and one of the two Old World flying squirrels. This rodent is one of the cutest and most lovable creatures ever known! Despite the common name, this unique squirrel doesn't fly. Instead, it glides with a membrane, stretching from its forelimbs to hind limbs and covered with fur.

The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is known to glide long distances of up to 100 meters at a time, using this ability to move between trees or escape predators. The life expectancy of this animal is unknown, although other flying squirrels typically live 4 – 5 years in the wild and as long as 10 – 15 years in captivity.

Fun facts for kids

• The flying squirrels are thought to have originated about 18 - 20 million years ago.

• When the squirrel lands on a tree, the fluffy tail helps the animal balance, acting as an air brake.

• The flying squirrels are extremely cautious animals. When landing on a tree, they scurry around to the other side of the tree in order to get rid of predators that may have followed them during gliding.

• Japanese dwarf flying squirrels eat in an unusual way, usually hanging upside down a twig or branch when chewing their meal. In this position, they stretch their bodies and reach out to whichever item is accessible, instead of moving around to find food.

This is a video of a Japanese dwarf flying squirrel

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