Idiurus macrotis Idiurus zenkeri The flying mice, also known as the pygmy scaly-tails, pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels, or pygmy anomalures are not true mice, not true squirrels, and are not capable of true flight.

[1] These unusual rodents are essentially miniaturized versions of anomalures and are part of the same sub-Saharan African radiation of gliding mammal.

These animals resemble mice with gliding membranes and long, sparsely-haired tails.

They are less than 10 cm (4 inches) in head and body length and weigh 14-35 grams (1/2 - 1.2 oz).

[2] Flying mice are nocturnal and are found in the poorly explored tropical forests of central (and to a lesser extent western) Africa.