Research Training Program Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History PROJECT SUMMARY 1995
Teresa J. Friedrich Hope College Holland, Michigan
Richard W.Thorington, Jr., Ph.D. Supervising Scientist: Department of Vertebrate Zoology
"The Research Training Program is an excellent opportunity that I would recommend to any potential research scientist. It gives one the chance to conduct research, interact with other scientists, and be exposed to many new ideas, drawing together a greater understanding of the world in which we live."
Evolutionary relationships of flying squirrels
ABSTRACT

For some time, there has been a debate as to the phylogenetic relationships among the flying squirrel genera. McKenna (1962) considered flying squirrels to be monophyletic with Glaucomas, Eoglaucomys, and Petaurillus as the basal group. Hight et al. (1974) suggested that the group is polyphyletic, with Lomys being independently derived from the other flying squirrel genera. Thorington (1984) returned to considering the group monophyletic, but Thorington et al. (in press) disagreed with maintaining McKenna's basal group. The purpose of this project was to test these hypotheses by examining morphological evidence of external skin and cranial characters (including teeth). Results agree with maintaining flying squirrels as a monophyletic group, but indicate some differences in clades within the group.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number BIR-9300225.

Letter of Gratitude