Anomalure

Common card · No. 370379

The Anomaluridae are a family of rodents found in central Africa. They are known as anomalures or scaly-tailed squirrels or African flying squirrels. The six extant species are classified into two genera: Anomalurus, and the smaller, Idiurus. All anomalurids have membranes between their front and hind legs like those of the boreal flying squirrels, but they are not closely related to the flying squirrels that form the separate tribe Petauristini of the family Sciuridae. They are distinguished by two rows of pointed, raised scales on the undersides of their tails. The anatomy of their heads is quite different from that of the sciurid flying squirrels. By extending their limbs, anomalures transform themselves into a gliding platform that they control by manipulating the membranes and tail. Like North American flying squirrels, these species have a cartilaginous rod that aids them in maintaining the extension of the patagium when in flight; unlike flying squirrels, their cartilage originates...

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