Flying squirrel Temporal range: Early Oligocene – Recent
Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)
Scientific classification
Unrecognized taxon (fix):	Sciurinae
Tribe:	Pteromyini Brandt, 1855
Genera
Aeretes Aeromys Belomys Biswamoyopterus Eoglaucomys Eupetaurus Glaucomys Hylopetes Neopetes Iomys Petaurillus Petaurista Petinomys Pteromys Pteromyscus Trogopterus

A flying squirrel gliding

Flying squirrels are a tribe of 44 species in the squirrel family Sciuridae. Despite the name, none use powered flight: all are gliders.

They are sociable, noisy rodents that glide from tree to tree, using a flap of loose skin that connects their front and hind legs. They can glide up to 150 feet (46 m), steering with their tail, and landing on tree trunks, gripping it with all four feet.

These squirrels are nocturnal (most active at night). They have a life span of about five years in the wild, and about 13 years in captivity. Flying squirrels live in forests in North America, Europe and Asia.