Complex-toothed Flying Squirrel
Encyclopedia
The complex-toothed flying squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes) is a flying squirrel
found in the southern Chinese
provinces Hubei
, Hunan
, Guizhou
, Sichuan
and Yunnan
. Its name originates from the teeth, which differ from the other flying squirrels. The squirrel looks similar to other flying squirrels, most strikingly is a cluster of black hair at the bottom of the ear. The fur is grey-brown on top and white on bottom. Both its face and its tail are slightly red. The length of the body is about 30 cm, plus the tail which is another 30 cm long. The complex-toothed flying squirrel is an endangered species, both due to the destructions of forests as well as due to hunting.
Trogopterus xanthipes builds its nests in cliffs, usually around 30 m above the ground. They live in mountainous terrain in altitudes of 1300 to 1500 m above sealevel, according to some sources up to 2750 m. They are nocturnal, at night they leave their nests and search for nuts, fruits and branches.
Though five species of the genus Trogopterus had been described, they are now believed to be all of the same sole species T. xanthipes. The closely related hairy-footed flying squirrel
(Belomys pearsoni) is sometimes also added to the genus Trogopterus.
In Traditional Chinese medicine
the feces of the squirrel, known as the Five Spirits Grease (五靈脂, wǔ líng zhī) are believed to help against ulcer
in the duodenum
.
Flying squirrel
Flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of 44 species of squirrels .- Description :...
found in the southern Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
provinces Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
, Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
and Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
. Its name originates from the teeth, which differ from the other flying squirrels. The squirrel looks similar to other flying squirrels, most strikingly is a cluster of black hair at the bottom of the ear. The fur is grey-brown on top and white on bottom. Both its face and its tail are slightly red. The length of the body is about 30 cm, plus the tail which is another 30 cm long. The complex-toothed flying squirrel is an endangered species, both due to the destructions of forests as well as due to hunting.
Trogopterus xanthipes builds its nests in cliffs, usually around 30 m above the ground. They live in mountainous terrain in altitudes of 1300 to 1500 m above sealevel, according to some sources up to 2750 m. They are nocturnal, at night they leave their nests and search for nuts, fruits and branches.
Though five species of the genus Trogopterus had been described, they are now believed to be all of the same sole species T. xanthipes. The closely related hairy-footed flying squirrel
Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel
The hairy-footed flying squirrel is a flying squirrel found in the mountains of the eastern Himalaya, Southeast Asia, and southern China till the island of Taiwan. It lives at altitudes between 1500 and 2400 m above sea level....
(Belomys pearsoni) is sometimes also added to the genus Trogopterus.
In Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
the feces of the squirrel, known as the Five Spirits Grease (五靈脂, wǔ líng zhī) are believed to help against ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
in the duodenum
Duodenum
The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms anterior intestine or proximal intestine may be used instead of duodenum...
.