The Anomaluridae or scaly-tailed flying squirrels are a family of rodents found in central Africa. There are seven species, classified into three genera. Most are brightly coloured.
All but one species of anomalurids have membranes between their front and hind legs like those of a flying squirrel, but they are not thought to be closely related to the flying squirrels that form the subfamily Petauristinae of the family Sciuridae. They are distinguished by two rows of pointed, raised scales on the undersides of their tails. The anatomy of their heads is quite different from that of the sciuridflying squirrels.
Most Old World species are similar, but the giant flying squirrels, genus Pteromys, of S Asia, are up to 4 ft (120 cm) long and may be observed sleeping on branches during the day.
The scaly-tailed squirrels, or African flying squirrels, are not true squirrels, but members of a separate rodent family (Anomaluridae).
Found only in tropical Africa, they are anatomically quite different from the true flying squirrels and include both gliding and nongliding species.