Validity of three genera of flying squirrels: Eoglaucomys, Glaucomys, and Hylopetes

Abstract

Ellerman (1947) reduced the genus Eoglaucomys to a subgenus of Hylopetes. Burt (1960) suggested that Glaucomys sabrinus was more closely related to Hylopetes than to Glaucomys volans. We tested these two hypotheses by examining morphological evidence of bacula, foot pads, musculature, crania (especially teeth), and postcrania (especially wrists and ankles). Our data contradict these hypotheses and support recognition of three distinct clades.