Anomaluridae

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.

Anomalurids represent one of several independent evolutions of gliding ability in mammals. The others include the true flying squirrels of Eurasia and North America, colugos or flying lemurs of Southeast Asia, and the gliding phalangers in Australia.

Taxonomy

Family Anomaluridae

• Subfamily Anomalurinae (large anomalures)
  • Genus Anomalurus
    • Anomalurus beecrofti (Beecroft's anomalure)
    • Anomalurus derbianus (Lord Derby's anomalure)
    • Anomalurus pelii (Pel's anomalure)
    • Anomalurus pusillus (Lesser anomalure)
  • Subfamily Zenkerellinae (small anomalure)
    • Genus Idiurus (flying mice)
      • Idiurus macrotis (Long-eared flying mouse)
      • Idiurus zenkeri (Zenker's flying mouse)
    • Genus Zenkerella
      • Zenkerella insignis (Cameroon scaly-tail)