Gliding behaviour of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis Elliot

摘要

Gliding behaviour of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) was observed from March 2009 to February 2010, at Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India. A total of 1203 glides were observed. One hundred glides were recorded for assessment of gliding behaviour and 32 glides were recorded for analysing gliding speed. The mean glide ratio (2.32) was found to be higher than that of Petaurista leucogenys (1.87), Glaucomys sabrinus (1.98), Pteromys volans orii (1.70), and lower than that of Glaucomys volans (2.8). Ground speed (6.96 m/s), air speed (7.51 m/s) and gliding angle (25.53) were similar to other studies. Mean horizontal distance and air distance were 16.28 and 20.08 m respectively. Short glides were preferred by P. philippensis in comparison to long glides.