Pel's Flying Squirrel

Pel's Flying Squirrel (Anomalurus pelii) is the largest known member of the family Anomaluridae, a group of ancient African gliding rodents entirely distinct from the true squirrels (Sciuridae). It inhabits primary lowland tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa, where it glides between trees using a broad patagium supported by a cartilaginous elbow spur. It is further distinguished by a unique row of keeled scales on the underside of its tail base — a hallmark of all Anomaluridae — which function as a gripping brake on tree bark after gliding. Strictly nocturnal and highly arboreal, it is rarely observed and remains one of the least-studied large African rodents.

West and Central Africa; primarily Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Found across a broad arc of West and Central Africa: from Sierra Leone and Liberia in the west, through Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana (where the provided coordinates fall in the Ashanti forest zone), to Nigeria in the east, and potentially extending into Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, and the western Democratic Republic of Congo.

Altitude and depth

Primarily a lowland species, occurring from near sea level to approximately 1,000–1,500 m altitude, wherever dense primary forest persists.

Primary lowland tropical rainforest is the core habitat, where large-diameter trees with hollow cavities provide essential roosting and nesting sites. The species avoids fragmented, secondary, or heavily degraded forest. It is highly dependent on old-growth forest structure and canopy continuity for gliding.

Adaptations to its environment

The large patagium, stretching from neck to forelimbs, forelimbs to hindlimbs, and hindlimbs to tail, enables efficient long-distance gliding with fine steering control via limb adjustments. The keeled scales on the tail underside act as crampons, gripping bark firmly upon landing and preventing slippage. Oversized eyes maximize light capture for nocturnal foraging in dark forest understory.

Listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List, as the species is considered relatively widespread with no evidence of rapid population decline across three generations. However, it may be locally uncommon or rare due to ongoing deforestation and hunting pressure across much of its range.

Estimated population

No reliable global population estimate exists. The overall population trend is presumed to be declining, consistent with accelerating deforestation rates across West and Central African rainforests.

The primary threat is large-scale deforestation and habitat degradation driven by commercial logging, agricultural expansion (particularly cocoa and oil palm), and charcoal production. Bushmeat hunting poses an additional localized threat. Its dependence on old-growth forest with hollow trees makes it highly sensitive to logging.

The species is present within several protected areas, including Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire), Kakum National Park and Bia Conservation Area (Ghana), and Cross River National Park (Nigeria). Ghana's Wildlife Conservation Regulations and Côte d'Ivoire's forestry laws provide legal protections, though enforcement is uneven.

Recommended actions

Priority actions include: strengthening enforcement against illegal logging and bushmeat hunting in protected areas; expanding surveys to map current distribution and population density; implementing community-based forest management programs that safeguard old-growth forest patches outside formal reserves.

Dorsal fur is dark blackish-brown to dark gray-brown; ventral surface and parts of the patagium are whitish to pale cream. The tail is well-furred and moderately long. Eyes are very large and dark brown, reflecting the species' nocturnal lifestyle. Ears are moderate in size and rounded.

Size

Head-body length approximately 43–58 cm; tail length approximately 22–38 cm; total length can exceed 90 cm. The outstretched patagium spans a broad surface area proportional to its large body size.

Weight

Approximately 0.7–2.0 kg; as the largest Anomaluridae species, it significantly outweighs congeners such as Anomalurus derbianus. No reliable data on sex-based weight differences.

Distinctive features

Easily distinguished from all other Anomaluridae by its considerably larger body size. Its uniformly dark dorsal coloration and pale underparts, combined with size, separate it from the similarly distributed Anomalurus beecrofti (which is much smaller, about 20–30 cm head-body) and Anomalurus derbianus (25–38 cm head-body).

Primarily solitary. Multiple individuals may occasionally share a single large hollow tree roost, but sustained social groups are not documented. Social structure and hierarchy are poorly understood.

When it is active

Strictly nocturnal. During daylight hours, it retreats to hollow tree cavities to rest. It becomes active after dark, foraging through the canopy and gliding between trees throughout the night.

Diet

Strictly herbivorous. Diet consists of bark (a major dietary component), leaves, fruits, seeds, flowers, and possibly fungi. Bark-feeding is especially prominent during periods when fruit is scarce, and individuals leave distinctive gnaw marks on tree trunks.

Communication

Likely uses a repertoire of vocalizations including squeaks and chirps for conspecific communication. Scent glands are presumed to be used for territory and mate signaling, as in related species. Specific behavioral and acoustic studies for this species are lacking.

Interactions with other species

Natural predators likely include large forest owls (e.g., Fraser's Eagle-Owl, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl), arboreal vipers and large pythons, and mammalian carnivores such as the leopard and African palm civet. As a fruit and seed consumer, it may play a secondary role in seed dispersal in primary forest.

Role in its ecosystem

Occupies an arboreal herbivore niche in lowland rainforests. Bark-feeding behavior may have minor effects on tree physiology and nutrient cycling. Fruit and seed consumption may contribute modestly to seed dispersal. Its dependence on hollow trees links it to forest structural complexity.

Reproductive biology is poorly documented. Litter size is believed to be small, typically 1–2 young per birth, consistent with other Anomaluridae. Breeding may occur year-round or during specific seasons, but no detailed data are available for this species.

Raising the young

Young are likely born in a relatively advanced state (semi-precocial), as in other anomalures. The female cares for offspring in a hollow-tree nest cavity; duration of maternal care and weaning age are not precisely documented for this species.

Maturity and lifespan

Age of sexual maturity is not documented for this species. Wild lifespan is unknown. Captive data for Anomaluridae are scarce, but related species are estimated to live 5–10 years in favorable conditions.

Classification

Mammalia > Rodentia > Anomaluridae > Anomalurus > Anomalurus pelii (Schlegel & Müller, 1845)

Scientific synonyms

Originally described by Schlegel & Müller (1845) as Anomalurus pelii; no widely recognized taxonomic synonyms are currently accepted.

Recent studies

Molecular phylogenetic analyses have confirmed that Anomaluridae represents one of the earliest-diverging lineages within Rodentia, with an estimated split from other rodent groups over 50 million years ago. Camera-trap and transect surveys in protected areas in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire have occasionally recorded the species, but targeted ecological studies remain extremely rare.

Compared with similar species

Pel's Flying Squirrel is substantially larger than the most widespread congener, Lord Derby's Anomalure (Anomalurus derbianus; head-body 25–38 cm, ~0.3–0.7 kg), and Beecroft's Anomalure (Anomalurus beecrofti; ~20–30 cm). Despite superficial resemblance to Indo-Asian flying squirrels (Pteromyinae), it belongs to a wholly different and far more ancient African lineage, representing a striking case of convergent evolution in gliding.

1) Despite its common name, Pel's Flying Squirrel is not related to true squirrels — its family, Anomaluridae, is one of the most ancient rodent lineages on Earth, having evolved independently in Africa for over 50 million years. 2) The keeled scales on the underside of its tail base function like climbing crampons, gripping bark instantly upon landing and preventing the animal from sliding down the trunk after a glide. 3) It can silently glide distances estimated at 50 meters or more in a single leap, steering mid-air by adjusting the tension of its patagium with subtle limb movements.

Where and how to see it

Best observed on guided night walks in primary forest within protected areas such as Kakum National Park in Ghana or Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire. Use a red-filtered spotlight to scan the canopy for eye shine without disturbing the animal. Visiting just after dusk maximizes chances of encounter as individuals emerge to forage. Prior knowledge of hollow-tree roost locations significantly increases observation success.

Risks to humans

No notable risk to humans.

Human uses

Occasionally taken as bushmeat by local and forest-dwelling communities across West and Central Africa, though it is not a primary target species. It has no documented role in traditional medicine and is not a significant subject of international wildlife trade.