Predation of Indian giant flying squirrel and Travancore flying squirrel in the Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Abstract Predation is an important process involved in the natural selection and evolution of animals, but is challenging to observe naturally. In this note we report predation events of two arboreal mammal species, the Indian giant flying squirrel, Petaurista philippensis and the Travancore flying squirrel, Petinomys fuscocapillus from the Western Ghats, India. Three raptor species and one carnivore species were observed predating on these species which are also the first reports of their predation on these flying squirrels.