Predicting the potential distribution and conservation needs of Travancore flying squirrel, Petinomys fuscocapillus, in Peninsular India and Sri Lanka, using GARP

Petinomys fuscocapillus, Jerdon 1847, Travancore flying squirrel, is known to occur in the forests of India and Sri Lanka. In spite of extensive surveys very few individuals were recorded in the last century. For a better understanding of the possible range of distribution, the present study mapped the potential geographic distribution of the P. fuscocapillus from peninsular India and Sri Lanka. We utilized occurrence records of 32 confirmed sightings of P. fuscocapillus to model the species ' potential geographic distribution by applying an ecological niche modelling (ENM) framework using Genetic Algorithm for Rule set Prediction (GARP). Results indicate that the modeled potential distribution of P. fuscocapillus in India is highly restricted to the narrow strip on western slope of the Western Ghats, and in Sri Lanka the predicted distribution is predominant in the lowlands of wet and intermediate zones. Further, about 88% of the modeled potential distribution range lies outside the protected area network and occupies lowland evergreen, semi-evergreen and its degraded forested stages. The narrow environmental niche of both known and modeled potential distribution and highly susceptible forests with less protection raise the need for conservation efforts and future studies.