also: むざさび
noun
Japanese giant flying squirrel
Refers specifically to Petaurista leucogenys, a large flying squirrel native to Japan. Often written in katakana as ムササビ.
夜の森でムササビが木から木へ滑空するのを見た。
I saw a Japanese giant flying squirrel gliding from tree to tree in the forest at night.
Rare kanji form; the word is usually written in kana.
Obsolete kana usage; included for reference.
モモンガ refers to smaller flying squirrels (genus Pteromys), while ムササビ is the larger Japanese giant flying squirrel.
The origin is uncertain. The word is native Japanese, and the kanji forms 鼯鼠 and 鼺鼠 are rare ateji.