Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Anomaluridae

Anomalurids
Scientific classification

Domain:Eukaryota
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Anomaluridae
Genera
Anomalurus, Idiurus, Zenkerella
The Anomaluridae or scaly-tailed flying squirrels are a family of rodents found in central Africa. There are seven species, classified into three genera. Most are brightly coloured.

All but one species of anomalurids have membranes between their front and hind legs like those of a flying squirrel, but they are not thought to be closely related to the flying squirrels that form the subfamily Petauristinae 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.