Abstract

For this project, a group of flying squirrels (genus Hylopetes) native to Southeast Asia was studied in an effort to work out the species and nomenclature. To address this problem, comparisons of skull morphometrics and pelage were made. It was found that Hylopetes lepidus is found in Java, and Hylopetes platyurus is found on the Malay Peninsula. Hylopetes spadiceus occurs on the Malay Peninsula and the animals on Sumatra and Borneo are most closely related to this species.

Introduction

There has been a great deal of confusion over the species and nomenclature of a group of flying squirrels in the genus Hylopetes native to Southeast Asia.This confusion is due to the physical similarities of the species as well as the complicated geography (composed largely of islands).

This group involves animals known by the following names:

• H. spadiceus (Blyth, 1847)
• H. platyurus (Jentink, 1890)
• H. lepidus (Horsfield, 1822)
  

Two of the species in questions occur on the Malay Peninsula, and we hypothesized that the larger one is H. spadiceus and the smaller one is H. platyurus.

In addition, we hypothesized that only specimens from Java belong to the species H. lepidus.

Methods

• Examined specimens from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)
• Collected morphometric data from skulls using 21 characters
• Took measurements of the tail dimensions using 5 measurements of width as well as a measurement of hair length
• Quantified the coloration of the cheeks and the base of the tail
• Completed a Principle Components Analysis (PCA) using SyStat 10.4

Results

Three main groups show up in the PCA: Hylopetes platyurus from the Malay Peninsula; H. lepidus from Java; H. spadiceus from the Malay Peninsula as well as Borneo, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Natuna Islands. The H. spadiceus from the Rhio Archipelago might be distinct, but it is difficult to determine because this group is represented by a single specimen.

Discussion

Based on the results of this study, this group of Hylopetes is now better understood. Some longstanding problems associated with species and nomenclature have been resolved. However, there is a great need for specimens collected from Sumatra, Borneo, and other places within this region.

Acknowlegdements

We would like to thank the Jean Lane Endowment for providing funds for this research. We would also like to thank the faculty and staff at the NMNH as well as those at the AMNH for all their support and assistance.