The world’s gliding mammals are an extraordinary group of animals that have the ability to glide from tree to tree with seemingly effortless grace. There are more than 60 species of gliding mammals including the flying squirrels from Europe and North America, the scaly-tailed flying squirrels from central Africa and the gliding possums of Australia and New Guinea.
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Tetrapodomorpha |
Class: | Mammalia |
Mirorder: | Primatomorpha |
Order: | Dermoptera |
Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in Southeast Asia. Just two extant species make up the entire family Cynocephalidae and order Dermoptera. They are the most capable gliders of all gliding mammals, using flaps of extra skin between their legs to glide from higher to lower locations. They are also known as cobegos or flying lemurs, although they are not true lemurs but are named due to their resemblance.
Cynocephalus volans
Galeopterus variegatus
Northern Glider
Petaurus abidi
Lesser Pygmy Flying Squirrel
Petaurillus emiliae
Red and White Giant Flying Squirrel
Petaurista alborufus
Dwarf Scaly-tailed Flying Squirrel
Anomalurus pusillus