It was described from two specimens discovered in 2017 and 2018, in the vicinity of Mount Gaoligong in the western Yunnan Province.

This species has also been photographed at two different localities at the eastern and western slopes of Mount Gaoligong.

[1][2][3] A single specimen of the Mount Gaoligong flying squirrel had a head-and-body length of 44 cm (1 ft 5 in), a tail length of 52 cm (1 ft 8 in) and a weight of 1.370 kg (3.02 lb).

Its natural habitat is evergreen broadleaf forest at an altitude of about 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level.

Due to its restricted distribution and general rarity, it is threatened by human activities such as agriculture and poaching.