Namdapha Flying Squirrel - Rare Species

Animal Profile

Animal Name: Namdapha Flying Squirrel
Scientific Name: Biswamoyopterus biswasi

Physical Description:
A medium-sized flying squirrel with reddish-grizzled fur, a pale gray crown, and white underparts. Its patagium (gliding membrane) glows orangish in flight. The tail stretches up to 60 cm, longer than its body, aiding aerial control. It has simple cheek teeth, unpigmented incisors, and honeycomb-like auditory bullae—traits that set it apart from other gliders.

Habitat:
Endemic to Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Lives in tall Mesua ferrea forests on hill slopes within the Dihing River basin, especially on the western Patkai range. Nocturnal and arboreal, it glides silently through dense canopy.

Existence Status / Date:
Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List) A
First discovered in 1981 from a single specimen
Went missing for 42 years, then resurfaced in 2022 with new sightings and DNA sampling efforts A

Source of Information:

• Wikipedia – Namdapha Flying Squirrel A
• Re:wild – Lost Species Initiative B

Content Summary:
The Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is one of the world’s rarest mammals. Known from a single specimen for decades, it became a symbol of lost biodiversity. Its recent rediscovery has reignited hope for conservation in India’s northeast.

Tags: Endemic Mammal, India, Gliding Rodent
Hashtags: #NamdaphaGhost #FlyingSquirrel #LostAndFoundSpecies