 it was originally described as "P. nigra" but has been replaced by "mechukaensis" because it was a primary homonym of "P. nigra" Wang 1981.In 2016, it was proposed that "mechukaensis" is the same species as the taxon "nigra", which was described in 1981 from northwestern Yunnan in China and traditionally has been considered a part of the Indian or red giant flying squirrel.If confirmed and recognized as a distinct species, this means that the correct scientific name for the Mechuka giant flying squirrel is "Petaurista nigra".