Flying squirrel

Flying squirrel

　　Flying squirrel

　　The flying squirrel, known locally as the “great flying squirrel,” looks like a squirrel and has a grayish-brown coat. Due to living in deep forests for generations, it has developed a broad, hairy membrane called a patagium between its front and hind legs, enabling it to glide downward through the forest. It also has a long tail that serves as a “rudder” during flight and functions like a “parachute.” When landing on the ground or a tree, the tail helps cushion the impact, protecting internal organs from damage caused by shock. The flying squirrel belongs to the order Rodentia and the family Pteromyidae. In the Liancheng forest area, it is known as the “orange-footed flying squirrel,” which resides year-round in crevices and rock cavities on cliffs within the forest. It is nocturnal and feeds on nuts, tender leaves, and beetles. The dried feces of the flying squirrel are used in traditional Chinese medicine as “Wulingzhi.” Wulingzhi contains large amounts of resin, urea, uric acid, and other compounds. It is warm in nature, sweet in taste, and fishy in odor. It can promote blood circulation, dispel blood stasis, and relieve pain, making it effective for treating various types of abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis, hernia pain, and other related conditions. Because flying squirrels live on high, rugged cliffs, climbing to reach them is extremely difficult and dangerous. As a result, Wulingzhi from the Liancheng forest area has not yet been collected or developed for use.