Myology of the Gliding Membranes of Some Petauristine Rodents (Genera: Glaucomys, pteromys, petinomys, and Petaurista)

The musculature associated with the gliding membranes and the styliform cartilage of the rodent genera Glaucomys, Pteromys, Petinomys , and Petaurista is described and compared with the cutaneous maximus of Sciurus . A pseudophyletic sequence from a non-gliding sciurid form through a primitive gliding form like Glaucomys to the well-developed gliding musculature of Petaurista is presented. The probable function of the gliding musculature is discussed.