Food Habits of Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista Philippensis Elliot) in Tropical Deciduous Forest, Rajasthan, India

• DOI: 10.3106/041.038.0409
• Publication Date: 2014-01-13T12:47:22Z
• Authors: Vijay Kumar Koli; Chhaya Bhatnagar; Satish Kumar Sharma
• Keywords: Arboreal locomotion; Diospyros

The feeding habits of Indian giant flying squirrels (Petaurista philippensis Elliot 1839) were studied in the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India, from March 2009 to February 2010. Feeding by was arboreal and consisted entirely plant materials. Based on 5,071 records, 20 species belonging 13 families used. Madhuca longifolia most eaten (31.85% annual diet) followed Terminalia bellirica (17.11 %), tomentosa (9.52%) Diospyros melanoxylon (8.09%). consumed food part pith (78.06%) with other parts (twigs, leaves, bark, flowers, buds, fruits seeds) comprising 21.94% diet. Early night found be active time for feeding, reduced until 0530 hrs.