The back or dorsal region is an intense chestnut or maroon, and the underside is golden red. The back or saddle never has a pale middorsal stripe. The tail is paler than the body above and is tipped black. It can be distinguished from the Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel, Petaurista nobilis, by a dark cap on the head that extends downward from the eyes to the nose, and a black triangular spot on the chin.

The species is recorded from Bhutan, China, India and Nepal.