pet aurus

[Gr. petauron =a perch, a springboard.] Zool.: A genus of Phalangistine (q. v.), ranging from New Ireland to South Australia; absent from Tasmania. Flying membrane stretching from out side of tip of anterior fifth toe to ankle; tail bushy; ears large and nearly naked. There are four, or perhaps five species; the best known is Petaurus sciureus , the Squirrel Flying Phalanger. P.austra lis is the Yellow-bellied, and P. breviceps the Short headed Flying Phalanger. [PHALANGER.]