| Aeretes | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Tribe: | Pteromyini |
| Genus: | Aeretes G. M. Allen, 1940 |
| Type species | |
| Pteromys melanopterus | |
| Species | |
Aeretes is a genus of squirrels that contains a single extant species, the groove-toothed flying squirrel (Aeretes melanopterus).
Two fossil species are also known from Late Pliocene of China. [1]
The earliest fossil record of Aeretes was found in South China in Middle Pleistocene deposits. In the Beijing area, the earliest records are from Upper Cave and Tianyuan Cave at Zhoukoudian. These fossils are of the Late Pleistocene age. The geographical distribution of this species are very limited. Aeretes experience evolution through the increase and decrease of tooth size throughout time. [2]
In addition to changes in their tooth size, the height of their crown continuously increased over time. Due to an adaptation of learning to process the material of tougher plants such as tree bark and fibrous vegetation [3]
