New Delhi, June 15: Two new species of woolly flying squirrel have been found by an international team of scientists from Australia and China. They were discovered in Tibet’s Shigatse, and Yunnan’s Nujiang region, respectively. These two newly discovered species have been named, Tibetan woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus tibetensis) and Yunnan woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus nivamons). Until this discovery, scientists were aware of only one species of woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus). But now this genus has grown to three known ones. The animals glide between rocks and cliffs using skin stretched between their front and hind legs. The two new species have differently shaped skulls, and different DNA (genetic material) make-up. Both species can grow more than three feet and weigh over 2.5 kilograms each. Scientists used morphological examination (where tissues and cells are examined under microscope) and molecular phylogenetic analysis (study of evolutionary development of a species) to differentiate between newly discovered species. Using the handful of museum specimens of woolly flying squirrels available, plus data from field expeditions, the team have confirmed the existence of these two species.
News input from Aryaa Sinha
