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Spectacular pictures of the Japanese pygmy flying squirrel

Spectacular pictures of the Japanese pygmy flying squirrel

The Japanese pygmy flying squirrel is a small mammal that lives in the northern evergreen forests of the Japanese islands. 

Natsumi Handa, a nature and wildlife photographer, has captured beautiful images of these cute creatures.

Meet the Japanese pygmy flying squirrel, The cutest creature you’ve ever seen. The dwarf flying squirrel is native to Japan. These squirrels live in the northern evergreen forests of the Honshu and Kyushu islands. Flying squirrels are small in size; Their size is usually around 6 to 8 cm, and their tail length is 4 to 6 cm.

Dwarf squirrels hide in a cavity like a hole in coniferous trees during the day and come out of their safe place at night to eat buds, leaves, the bark of some trees, fruits, and seeds.

Handa Natsumi is a tasteful nature and wildlife photographer who was able to take beautiful photos of these tiny and cute creatures. Stay with Zoomit to see these pictures.

Japanese squirrel / Natsumi Handa

Flying Squirrel / Natsumi Handa

Contrary to the name of these animals, they do not fly; Rather, they can make high jumps up to 100 meters, which is used to escape predators and jump from one tree to another. Flying squirrels do this with the help of a furry membrane that stretches from their forelimbs to their hind limbs.

Three Japanese pygmy squirrels in a tree / Natsumi Handa

The dwarf flying squirrel / Natsumi Handa

Japanese dwarf squirrel / Natsumi Handa

Japanese pygmy flying squirrel eating leaves / Natsumi Handa

Three Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrels / Natsumi Handa

These cute little creatures mate twice a year, usually from May to January. Their gestation period lasts about four weeks, and they give birth to an average of 2 to 3 and sometimes up to 5 cute squirrel babies per birth.

The mother squirrel takes care of her children until the first six weeks of birth. Female flying squirrels are very careful about their children and care about cleaning and protecting them. Unfortunately, there is no information on whether male squirrels play a role in caring for their offspring.

5 Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrel / Natsumi Handa

Japanese pygmy flying squirrel on a tree / Natsumi Handa

Two Japanese pygmy squirrels on a branch / Natsumi Handa

Japanese pygmy flying squirrel eating / Natsumi Handa

Japanese pygmy flying squirrel in hiding / Natsumi Handa

Japanese pygmy flying squirrel in a tree hole / Natsumi Handa

Japanese pygmy flying squirrel on a branch / Natsumi Handa

To see more pictures and support this photographer, you can follow Handa Natsumi’s Instagram page.

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We hope you enjoyed this part of  Shutter. What do you think about the pictures of these native Japanese squirrels? Which photo did you like the most?