Laotian giant flying squirrel

The Laotian giant flying squirrel, Biswamoyopterus laoensis, is an arboreal flying squirrel endemic to Laos. It is the second species described in the genus Biswamoyopterus, after B. biswasi, which is known from a single specimen found in India in 1981. It was first collected in September 2012 by scientists examining animal corpses in the illegal bushmeat market at Ban Thongnami, Pakkading District, Bolikhamxai Province. Its fur is reddish and grizzled with white above, the crown is pale grey, the gliding membrane is orangish and the underparts are white. With a body length of about 0.46 meters, a tail of about 0.62 meters and a mass near 1.8 kilograms, it is one of the longest members of the squirrel family and slightly larger than its only congener.