What Is the Only Mammal That Can Fly

Animals that have evolved aerial locomotion

A number of animals are capable of aeriform locomotion, either by powered flight or by gliding. This trait has appeared by evolution many times, without whatever unmarried common ancestor. Flying has evolved at least 4 times in carve up animals: insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats. Gliding has evolved on many more occasions. Commonly the development is to aid canopy animals in getting from tree to tree, although there are other possibilities. Gliding, in particular, has evolved among rainforest animals, especially in the rainforests in Asia (almost especially Borneo) where the trees are tall and widely spaced. Several species of aquatic animals, and a few amphibians and reptiles have as well evolved this gliding flight ability, typically as a ways of evading predators.

Types [edit]

Brute aerial locomotion can be divided into 2 categories: powered and unpowered. In unpowered modes of locomotion, the animal uses aerodynamics forces exerted on the body due to current of air or falling through the air. In powered flight, the animal uses muscular ability to generate aerodynamic forces to climb or to maintain steady, level flying. Those who can find air that is rising faster than they are falling tin gain altitude by soaring.

Unpowered [edit]

These modes of locomotion typically require an animal start from a raised location, converting that potential free energy into kinetic free energy and using aerodynamic forces to control trajectory and angle of descent. Free energy is continually lost to drag without being replaced, thus these methods of locomotion have limited range and duration.

Falling: decreasing altitude under the force of gravity, using no adaptations to increase drag or provide lift.
Parachuting: falling at an bending greater than 45° from the horizontal with adaptations to increase drag forces. Very pocket-sized animals may exist carried up by the wind. Some gliding animals may use their gliding membranes for drag rather than lift, to safely descend.
Gliding flying: falling at an angle less than 45° from the horizontal with lift from adapted aerofoil membranes. This allows slowly falling directed horizontal movement, with streamlining to decrease drag forces for aerofoil efficiency and often with some maneuverability in air. Gliding animals have a lower aspect ratio (fly length/breadth) than truthful flyers.

Powered flight [edit]

Powered flight has evolved at to the lowest degree four times: beginning in the insects, then in pterosaurs, next in birds, and terminal in bats. Studies on theropod dinosaurs do advise multiple (≥3) independent acquisitions of powered flight however,^[1] ^[2] and a recent written report proposes independent acquisitions amidst the dissimilar bat clades as well.^[3] Powered flight uses muscles to generate aerodynamic force, which allows the animal to produce lift and thrust. The animal may ascend without the assistance of rising air.

Externally powered [edit]

Ballooning and soaring are non powered by muscle, but rather by external aerodynamic sources of energy: the wind and ascent thermals, respectively. Both tin can continue as long every bit the source of external power is present. Soaring is typically only seen in species capable of powered flight, as it requires extremely big wings.

Ballooning: being carried upwardly into the air from the aerodynamic effect on long strands of silk in the wind. Certain silk-producing arthropods, more often than not small-scale or immature spiders, secrete a special light-weight gossamer silk for ballooning, sometimes traveling nifty distances at high distance.
Soaring: gliding in rising or otherwise moving air that requires specific physiological and morphological adaptations that can sustain the animal aloft without flapping its wings. The rising air is due to thermals, ridge lift or other meteorological features. Nether the right weather, soaring creates a gain of distance without expending energy. Large wingspans are needed for efficient soaring.

Many species will use multiple of these modes at diverse times; a militarist volition apply powered flight to rising, and so soar on thermals, so descend via free-fall to grab its prey.

Development and ecology [edit]

Gliding and parachuting [edit]

While gliding occurs independently from powered flying,^[4] it has some ecological advantages of its own as it is the simplest form of flight.^[5] Gliding is a very energy-efficient way of travelling from tree to tree. Although moving through the canopy running along the branches may be less energetically demanding, the faster transition between trees allows for greater foraging rates in a particular patch.^[half-dozen] Glide ratios can be dependent on size and current behavior. Higher foraging rates are supported by low glide ratios as smaller foraging patches require less gliding time over shorter distances and greater amounts of food can exist acquired in a shorter fourth dimension period.^[6] Low ratios are not every bit energy efficient as the higher ratios,^[five] merely an argument fabricated is that many gliding animals eat low free energy foods such equally leaves and are restricted to gliding because of this, whereas flight animals swallow more loftier free energy foods such as fruits, nectar, and insects.^[vii] Mammals tend to rely on lower glide ratios to increase the amount of time foraging for lower energy food.^[8] An equilibrium glide, achieving a constant airspeed and glide angle, is harder to obtain as animal size increases. Larger animals demand to glide from much higher heights and longer distances to brand it energetically beneficial^[9] . Gliding is also very suitable for predator abstention, assuasive for controlled targeted landings to safer areas^[ten] ^[nine] . In contrast to flight, gliding has evolved independently many times (more than a dozen times among extant vertebrates); yet these groups take not radiated virtually as much as take groups of flying animals.

Worldwide, the distribution of gliding animals is uneven as most inhabit rain forests in Southeast Asia. (Despite seemingly suitable rain forest habitats, few gliders are found in India or New Republic of guinea and none in Madagascar.) Additionally, a variety of gliding vertebrates are found in Africa, a family unit of hylids (flight frogs) lives in South America and several species of gliding squirrels are found in the forests of northern Asia and North America.^[11] Various factors produce these disparities. In the forests of Southeast Asia, the dominant canopy trees (commonly dipterocarps) are taller than the canopy trees of the other forests. Woods structure and altitude betwixt trees are influential in the evolution of gliding within varying species.^[8] A higher start provides a competitive advantage of farther glides and farther travel. Gliding predators may more efficiently search for prey. The lower abundance of insect and small vertebrate prey for carnivorous animals (such as lizards) in Asian forests may be a gene.^[11] In Commonwealth of australia, many mammals (and all mammalian gliders) possess, to some extent, prehensile tails. Globally, smaller gliding species tend to accept feather-like tails and larger species accept fur covered round bushy tails,^[10] only smaller animals tend to rely on parachuting rather than developing gliding membranes.^[9] The gliding membranes, patagium, are classified in the 4 groups of propatagium, digipatagium, plagiopatagium and uropatagium. These membranes consist of 2 tightly bounded layers of skin connected my muscles and connective tissue betwixt the fore and hind limbs.^[10]

Powered flight evolution [edit]

Powered flying has evolved unambiguously merely four times—birds, bats, pterosaurs, and insects (though see in a higher place for possible independent acquisitions within bird and bat groups). In dissimilarity to gliding, which has evolved more frequently but typically gives rise to only a handful of species, all three extant groups of powered flyers have a huge number of species, suggesting that flying is a very successful strategy in one case evolved. Bats, after rodents, have the most species of whatsoever mammalian guild, about twenty% of all mammalian species.^[12] Birds accept the most species of any class of terrestrial vertebrates. Finally, insects (virtually of which wing at some point in their life cycle) accept more species than all other animal groups combined.

The evolution of flight is one of the most hitting and enervating in fauna evolution, and has attracted the attention of many prominent scientists and generated many theories. Additionally, because flying animals tend to be pocket-size and take a depression mass (both of which increase the surface-area-to-mass ratio), they tend to fossilize infrequently and poorly compared to the larger, heavier-boned terrestrial species they share habitat with. Fossils of flying animals tend to be confined to exceptional fossil deposits formed under highly specific circumstances, resulting in a mostly poor fossil record, and a particular lack of transitional forms. Furthermore, as fossils do not preserve behavior or musculus, it can be difficult to discriminate between a poor flyer and a skillful glider.

Insects were the first to evolve flight, approximately 350 meg years ago. The developmental origin of the insect wing remains in dispute, as does the purpose prior to truthful flight. Ane proposition is that wings initially evolved from tracheal gill structures and were used to catch the current of air for small insects that live on the surface of the water, while another is that they evolved from paranotal lobes or leg structures and gradually progressed from parachuting, to gliding, to flight for originally arboreal insects.^[13]

Pterosaurs were the next to evolve flight, approximately 228 1000000 years agone. These reptiles were close relatives of the dinosaurs, and reached enormous sizes, with some of the concluding forms being the largest flying animals always to inhabit the Earth, having wingspans of over 9.1 m (30 ft). However, they spanned a big range of sizes, downwardly to a 250 mm (10 in) wingspan in Nemicolopterus.

Birds have an all-encompassing fossil record, along with many forms documenting both their evolution from small theropod dinosaurs and the numerous bird-like forms of theropod which did not survive the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. Indeed, Archaeopteryx is arguably the near famous transitional fossil in the world, both due to its mix of reptilian and avian anatomy and the luck of existence discovered only two years later on Darwin'south publication of On the Origin of Species. However, the environmental of this transition is considerably more contentious, with various scientists supporting either a "trees down" origin (in which an arboreal antecedent evolved gliding, then flight) or a "footing up" origin (in which a fast-running terrestrial ancestor used wings for a speed boost and to help catch casualty).

Bats are the most recent to evolve (about 60 meg years ago), virtually likely from a fluttering ancestor,^[xiv] though their poor fossil record has hindered more detailed study.

Only a few animals are known to have specialised in soaring: the larger of the extinct pterosaurs, and some large birds. Powered flying is very energetically expensive for large animals, just for soaring their size is an advantage, as information technology allows them a low fly loading, that is a large fly area relative to their weight, which maximizes lift.^[15] Soaring is very energetically efficient.

Biomechanics [edit]

Gliding and parachuting [edit]

During a free-autumn with no aerodynamic forces, the object accelerates due to gravity, resulting in increasing velocity equally the object descends. During parachuting, animals utilise the aerodynamic forces on their body to counteract the force or gravity. Whatsoever object moving through air experiences a elevate strength that is proportion to surface area and to velocity squared, and this forcefulness will partially counter the strength of gravity, slowing the animal'southward descent to a safer speed. If this drag is oriented at an angle to the vertical, the animal's trajectory will gradually become more horizontal, and it will cover horizontal also as vertical distance. Smaller adjustments can allow turning or other maneuvers. This can allow a parachuting animal to movement from a loftier location on one tree to a lower location on another tree nearby. Specifically in gliding mammals, there are iii types of gliding paths respectively existence S glide, J glide, and "directly-shaped" glides where species either gain altitude post launch then descend, rapidly subtract top earlier gliding, and maintaining a constant angled descent.^[x]

During gliding, lift plays an increased function. Like elevate, elevator is proportional to velocity squared. Gliding animals will typically jump or drop from high locations such as trees, but as in parachuting, and as gravitational dispatch increases their speed, the aerodynamic forces also increment. Because the beast can use lift and drag to generate greater aerodynamic force, it tin glide at a shallower angle than parachuting animals, allowing it to cover greater horizontal distance in the same loss of distance, and achieve trees further abroad. Successful flights for gliding animals are achieved through five steps: training, launch, glide, braking, and landing. Gliding species are better able to control themselves mid-air, with the tail acting as a rudder, making it capable to pull off banking movements or U-turns during flight.^[ten] During landing, arboreal mammals volition extend their fore and hind limbs in front end of itself to caryatid for landing and to trap air in order to maximize air resistance and lower impact speed.^[10]

Powered flight [edit]

Unlike most air vehicles, in which the objects that generate lift (wings) and thrust (engine or propeller) are divide and the wings remain fixed, flying animals use their wings to generate both lift and thrust by moving them relative to the trunk. This has made the flying of organisms considerably harder to sympathise than that of vehicles, as information technology involves varying speeds, angles, orientations, areas, and catamenia patterns over the wings.

A bird or bat flight through the air at a constant speed moves its wings upward and downwardly (usually with some fore-aft movement as well). Because the animal is in motion, at that place is some airflow relative to its body which, combined with the velocity of its wings, generates a faster airflow moving over the fly. This will generate lift force vector pointing forwards and up, and a drag force vector pointing rearwards and upward. The up components of these counteract gravity, keeping the torso in the air, while the forward component provides thrust to counteract both the elevate from the fly and from the body as a whole. Pterosaur flying probable worked in a similar manner, though no living pterosaurs remain for written report.

Insect flight is considerably dissimilar, due to their small size, rigid wings, and other anatomical differences. Turbulence and vortices play a much larger role in insect flight, making it even more complex and hard to study than the flight of vertebrates.^[16] There are two bones aerodynamic models of insect flight. Most insects employ a method that creates a spiralling leading edge vortex.^[17] ^[18] Some very small insects utilise the fling-and-clap or Weis-Fogh mechanism in which the wings clap together to a higher place the insect'due south body and so fling autonomously. As they fling open, the air gets sucked in and creates a vortex over each wing. This bound vortex then moves across the wing and, in the handclapping, acts as the starting vortex for the other wing. Apportionment and lift are increased, at the toll of wear and tear on the wings.^[17] ^[xviii]

Limits and extremes [edit]

Flight and soaring [edit]

Largest. The largest known flying animate being was formerly idea to be Pteranodon, a pterosaur with a wingspan of upward to 7.v metres (25 ft). Nonetheless, the more recently discovered azhdarchid pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus is much larger, with estimates of the wingspan ranging from ix to 12 metres (thirty to 39 ft). Another recently discovered azhdarchid pterosaur species, such every bit Hatzegopteryx, may have too wingspans of a similar size or even slightly larger. Although information technology is widely thought that Quetzalcoatlus reached the size limit of a flying creature, the aforementioned was in one case said of Pteranodon. The heaviest living flying animals are the kori bustard and the groovy bustard with males reaching 21 kilograms (46 lb). The wandering boundness has the greatest wingspan of any living flying beast at 3.63 metres (xi.ix ft). Among living animals which wing over land, the Andean condor and the marabou stork have the largest wingspan at 3.2 metres (10 ft). Studies have shown^{[ citation needed ]} that it is physically possible for flying animals to accomplish 18-metre (59 ft) wingspans, merely at that place is no house prove that whatsoever flying animal, not even the azhdarchid pterosaurs, got that large.^[19]

Comparison of Quetzalcoatlus northropi with a Cessna 172 calorie-free aircraft

Smallest. There is no minimum size for getting airborne. Indeed, in that location are many bacteria floating in the temper that constitute part of the aeroplankton.^[20] However, to motility about under one's ain power and not exist overly affected by the wind requires a sure amount of size. The smallest flying vertebrates are the bee hummingbird and the bumblebee bat, both of which may weigh less than 2 grams (0.071 oz). They are idea to correspond the lower size limit for endotherm flight.^{[ commendation needed ]}
Fastest. The fastest of all known flying animals is the peregrine falcon, which when diving travels at 300 kilometres per hour (190 mph) or faster. The fastest animal in flapping horizontal flight may be the Mexican gratuitous-tailed bat, said to accomplish about 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) based on ground speed by an aircraft tracking device;^[21] that measurement does not divide any contribution from wind speed, so the observations could exist acquired past stiff tailwinds.^[22]
Slowest. Most flying animals need to travel forward to stay aloft. However, some creatures tin stay in the same spot, known as hovering, either by chop-chop flapping the wings, as do hummingbirds, hoverflies, dragonflies, and some others, or advisedly using thermals, equally do some birds of prey. The slowest flying non-hovering bird recorded is the American woodcock, at 8 kilometres per hour (5.0 mph).^[23]
Highest flying. At that place are records of a Rüppell's vulture Gyps rueppelli, a large vulture, being sucked into a jet engine 11,550 metres (37,890 ft) above Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa.^[24] The brute that flies highest near regularly is the bar-headed goose Anser indicus, which migrates directly over the Himalayas between its nesting grounds in Tibet and its wintertime quarters in India. They are sometimes seen flying well higher up the peak of Mount Everest at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft).^[25]

Airborne flying squirrel.

Gliding and parachuting [edit]

Most efficient glider. This tin be taken as the animal that moves virtually horizontal distance per metre fallen. Flight squirrels are known to glide upward to 200 metres (660 ft), but take measured glide ratio of virtually ii. Flying fish have been observed to glide for hundreds of metres on the drafts on the edge of waves with just their initial leap from the water to provide pinnacle, but may exist obtaining boosted elevator from wave motility. On the other hand, albatrosses have measured lift–drag ratios of 20,^[26] and thus autumn just one meter for every 20 in still air.
Most maneuverable glider. Many gliding animals accept some power to plough, just which is the most maneuverable is difficult to assess. Fifty-fifty paradise tree snakes, Chinese gliding frogs, and gliding ants have been observed equally having considerable chapters to plow in the air.^[27] ^[28] ^[29]

Flying animals [edit]

Extant [edit]

Insects [edit]

Pterygota: The first of all animals to evolve flight, they are also the but invertebrates that have evolved flight. The species are too numerous to list here. Insect flight is an active research field.

Birds are a successful grouping of flying vertebrate.

Birds [edit]

Birds (flying, soaring) – Most of the approximately 10,000 living species can fly (flightless birds are the exception). Bird flying is one of the most studied forms of aeriform locomotion in animals. Run into List of soaring birds for birds that can soar equally well as wing.

Mammals [edit]

Bats. There are approximately 1,240 bat species, representing near 20% of all classified mammal species.^[30] Virtually bats are nocturnal and many feed on insects while flight at nighttime, using echolocation to home in on their prey.^[31]

Extinct [edit]

Pterosaurs included the largest known flight animals

Reptiles [edit]

Pterosaurs. Pterosaurs were the first flying vertebrates, and are generally agreed to have been sophisticated flyers. They had big wings formed by a patagium stretching from the body to a dramatically lengthened quaternary finger. There were hundreds of species, most of which are idea to have been intermittent flappers, and many soarers. The largest known flying animals are pterosaurs.

Non-avian dinosaurs [edit]

Theropods (gliding and flying). There were several species of theropod dinosaur thought to be capable of gliding or flight, that are not classified as birds (though they are closely related). Some species (Microraptor gui, Microraptor zhaoianus, and Changyuraptor) have been found that were fully feathered on all 4 limbs, giving them 4 'wings' that they are believed to take used for gliding or flying. A recent report indicates that flight may have been acquired independently in diverse dissimilar lineages^[2] though it may take merely evolved in theropods of the Avialae.

Gliding animals [edit]

Extant [edit]

Insects [edit]

Gliding bristletails. Directed aerial gliding descent is plant in some tropical arboreal bristletails, an ancestrally wingless sister taxa to the winged insects. The bristletails median caudal filament is important for the glide ratio and gliding control^[32]
Gliding ants. The flightless workers of these insects have secondarily gained some capacity to move through the air. Gliding has evolved independently in a number of arboreal emmet species from the groups Cephalotini, Pseudomyrmecinae, and Formicinae (by and large Camponotus). All arboreal dolichoderines and non-cephalotine myrmicines except Daceton armigerum do not glide. Living in the rainforest canopy like many other gliders, gliding ants use their gliding to return to the trunk of the tree they live on should they fall or be knocked off a co-operative. Gliding was first discovered for Cephalotes atreus in the Peruvian rainforest. Cephalotes atreus tin make 180 degree turns, and locate the trunk using visual cues, succeeding in landing 80% of the time.^[33] Unique amid gliding animals, Cephalotini and Pseudomyrmecinae ants glide abdomen starting time, the Forminicae however glide in the more conventional caput kickoff manner.^[34]
Gliding immature insects. The wingless young stages of some insect species that have wings equally adults may too testify a chapters to glide. These include some species of cockroach, mantid, katydid, stick insect and truthful problems. [i]

Spiders [edit]

Ballooning spiders (parachuting). The immature of some species of spiders travel through the air by using silk draglines to catch the wind, equally may some smaller species of developed spider, such every bit the money spider family unit. This beliefs is commonly known equally "ballooning". Ballooning spiders brand upward role of the aeroplankton.
Gliding spiders. Some species of arboreal spider of the genus Selenops tin glide back to the torso of a tree should they fall. [2]

Molluscs [edit]

Flying squid. Several oceanic squids of the family Ommastrephidae, such as the Pacific flying squid, will leap out of the water to escape predators, an adaptation similar to that of flying fish.^[35] Smaller squids will fly in shoals, and have been observed to cover distances every bit long as l metres (160 ft). Small fins towards the back of the mantle exercise not produce much elevator, but do assist stabilize the motion of flying. They go out the water by expelling water out of their funnel, indeed some squid have been observed to continue jetting water while airborne providing thrust fifty-fifty after leaving the water. This may brand flying squid the merely animals with jet-propelled aerial locomotion.^[36] The neon flight squid has been observed to glide for distances over thirty metres (100 ft), at speeds of upward to 11.2 metres per 2nd (37 ft/south).^[37]

Fish [edit]

Flying fish. At that place are over fifty species of flying fish belonging to the family Exocoetidae. They are generally marine fishes of pocket-sized to medium size. The largest flight fish can achieve lengths of 45 centimetres (eighteen in) only almost species measure less than 30 cm (12 in) in length. They tin be divided into 2-winged varieties and four-winged varieties. Before the fish leaves the water information technology increases its speed to around 30 torso lengths per 2d and as it breaks the surface and is freed from the elevate of the water it can exist traveling at around 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph).^[38] The glides are usually upwardly to xxx–l metres (100–160 ft) in length, but some have been observed soaring for hundreds of metres using the updraft on the leading edges of waves. The fish can also make a series of glides, each time dipping the tail into the water to produce forward thrust. The longest recorded serial of glides, with the fish just periodically dipping its tail in the h2o, was for 45 seconds (Video here^[39]). It has been suggested that the genus Exocoetus is on an evolutionary borderline between flight and gliding. It flaps its enlarged pectoral fins when airborne, but nonetheless seems simply to glide, every bit there is no hint of a power stroke.^[40] It has been found that some flying fish tin can glide as finer equally some flying birds.^[41]
Halfbeaks. A group related to the Exocoetidae, one or two hemirhamphid species possess enlarged pectoral fins and show true gliding flight rather than unproblematic leaps. Marshall (1965) reports that Euleptorhamphus viridis can comprehend 50 metres (160 ft) in two separate hops.^[42]
Freshwater butterflyfish (possibly gliding). Pantodon buchholzi has the ability to jump and mayhap glide a short distance. It can move through the air several times the length of its body. While it does this, the fish flaps its large pectoral fins, giving it its common name.^[43] However, it is debated whether the freshwater butterfly fish tin truly glide, Saidel et al. (2004) argue that it cannot.

Amphibians [edit]

Gliding has evolved independently in ii families of tree frogs, the Sometime World Rhacophoridae and the New Earth Hylidae. Within each lineage there are a range of gliding abilities from non-gliding, to parachuting, to full gliding.

Rhacophoridae flying frogs. A number of the Rhacophoridae, such equally Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus), have adaptations for gliding, the main characteristic being enlarged toe membranes. For example, the Malayan flight frog Rhacophorus prominanus glides using the membranes between the toes of its limbs, and small membranes located at the heel, the base of the leg, and the forearm. Some of the frogs are quite accomplished gliders, for example, the Chinese flying frog Rhacophorus dennysi can maneuver in the air, making ii kinds of turn, either rolling into the turn (a banked plow) or yawing into the turn (a crabbed turn).^[44] ^[45]
Hylidae flight frogs. The other frog family unit that contains gliders.^[46]

Reptiles [edit]

Several lizards and snakes are capable of gliding:

Draco lizards. In that location are 28 species of lizard of the genus Draco, found in Sri Lanka, Bharat, and Southeast Asia. They live in trees, feeding on tree ants, merely nest on the wood floor. They can glide for upward to 60 metres (200 ft) and over this distance they lose only x metres (30 ft) in height.^[38] Unusually, their patagium (gliding membrane) is supported on elongated ribs rather than the more common situation among gliding vertebrates of having the patagium fastened to the limbs. When extended, the ribs course a semicircle on either side the lizard'southward body and can be folded to the body like a folding fan.
Gliding lacertids. There are two species of gliding lacertid, of the genus Holaspis, found in Africa. They accept fringed toes and tail sides and can flatten their bodies for gliding or parachuting.^[47]
Ptychozoon flying geckos. There are six species of gliding gecko, of the genus Ptychozoon, from Southeast Asia. These lizards accept small-scale flaps of pare along their limbs, torso, tail, and head that take hold of the air and enable them to glide.^[48]
Lupersaurus flying geckos. A possible sister-taxon to Ptychozoon which has similar flaps and folds and as well glides.^[48]
Thecadactylus flying geckos. At to the lowest degree some species of Thecadactylus, such as T. rapicauda, are known to glide.^[48]
Cosymbotus flying gecko. Similar adaptations to Ptychozoon are found in the two species of the gecko genus Cosymbotus.
Chrysopelea snakes. 5 species of snake from Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and India. The paradise tree snake of southern Thailand, Malaysia, Kalimantan, Philippines, and Sulawesi is the nigh capable glider of those snakes studied. It glides by stretching out its body sideways and opening its ribs so the belly is concave, and by making lateral slithering movements. It tin remarkably glide upwardly to 100 metres (330 ft) and brand 90 degree turns.

Mammals [edit]

Bats are the only freely flying mammals.^[49] A few other mammals tin glide or parachute; the best known are flying squirrels and flying lemurs.

Flying squirrels (subfamily Petauristinae). There are more than than 40 living species divided between 14 genera of flying squirrel. Flight squirrels are institute in Asia (most species), North America (genus Glaucomys) and Europe (Siberian flying squirrel). They inhabit tropical, temperate, and Subarctic environments, with the Glaucomys preferring boreal and montane coniferous forests,^[50] specifically landing on ruby bandbox (Picea rubens) trees equally landing sites; they are known to rapidly climb trees, but accept some time to locate a good landing spot.^[51] They tend to be nocturnal and are highly sensitive to calorie-free and racket.^[50] When a flight squirrel wishes to cross to a tree that is further abroad than the distance possible by jumping, it extends the cartilage spur on its elbow or wrist. This opens out the flap of hirsuite skin (the patagium) that stretches from its wrist to its ankle. It glides spread-eagle and with its tail fluffed out like a parachute, and grips the tree with its claws when it lands. Flying squirrels have been reported to glide over 200 metres (660 ft).
Anomalures or scaly-tailed flying squirrels (family Anomaluridae). These brightly coloured African rodents are non squirrels simply have evolved to a resemble flying squirrels by convergent evolution. There are seven species, divided in three genera. All but one species have gliding membranes between their front and hind legs. The genus Idiurus contains ii particularly small species known as flying mice, but similarly they are non truthful mice.
Colugos or "flying lemurs" (order Dermoptera). There are two species of colugo. Despite their common proper noun, colugos are non lemurs; true lemurs are primates. Molecular evidence suggests that colugos are a sister group to primates; nevertheless, some mammalogists suggest they are a sister group to bats. Plant in Southeast Asia, the colugo is probably the mammal most adapted for gliding, with a patagium that is as large every bit geometrically possible. They can glide as far as 70 metres (230 ft) with minimal loss of height. They have the most developed propatagium out of whatever gliding mammal with a mean launch velocity of approximately iii.7 one thousand/due south;^[52] the Mayan Colugo has been known to initiate glides without jumping.^[10]
Sifaka, a type of lemur, and possibly some other primates (possible limited gliding or parachuting). A number of primates take been suggested to accept adaptations that allow limited gliding or parachuting: sifakas, indris, galagos and saki monkeys. About notably, the sifaka, a type of lemur, has thick hairs on its forearms that take been argued to provide drag, and a minor membrane nether its arms that has been suggested to provide lift by having aerofoil backdrop.^[53] ^[54]
Flying phalangers or wrist-winged gliders (subfamily Petaurinae). Possums^[55] ^[56] ^[57] ^[58] ^[59] ^[60] ^[61] ^[62] ^[63] found in Australia, and New Guinea. The gliding membranes are hardly noticeable until they jump. On jumping, the animal extends all four legs and stretches the loose folds of skin. The subfamily contains 7 species. Of the six species in the genus Petaurus, the saccharide glider and the Biak glider are the most common species. The lone species in the genus Gymnobelideus, Leadbeater's possum has only a vestigial gliding membrane.
Greater glider (Petauroides volans). The merely species of the genus Petauroides of the family Pseudocheiridae. This marsupial is found in Australia, and was originally classed with the flying phalangers, but is now recognised as separate. Its flying membrane just extends to the elbow, rather than to the wrist as in Petaurinae.^[64] It has elongated limbs compared to its non-gliding relatives.^[x]
Feather-tailed possums (family Acrobatidae). This family of marsupials contains two genera, each with one species. The feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus), found in Australia is the size of a very small mouse and is the smallest mammalian glider. The feathertail possum (Distoechurus pennatus) is found in New Guinea, but does not glide. Both species have a stiff-haired plumage-like tail.

Extinct [edit]

Reptiles [edit]

Extinct reptiles similar to Draco. There are a number of unrelated extinct lizard-like reptiles with like "wings" to the Draco lizards. These include the Late Permian Weigeltisauridae, the Triassic Kuehneosauridae and Mecistotrachelos,^[65] and the Cretaceous lizard Xianglong. The largest of these, Kuehneosaurus, has a wingspan of xxx centimetres (12 in), and was estimated to exist able to glide about 30 metres (100 ft).
Sharovipterygidae. These strange reptiles from the Upper Triassic of Kyrgyzstan and Poland unusually had a membrane on their elongated hind limbs, extending their otherwise normal, flying-squirrel-like patagia significantly. The forelimbs are in contrast much smaller.^[66]
Hypuronector. This bizarre drepanosaur displays limb proportions, specially the elongated forelimbs, that are consistent with a flight or gliding animal with patagia.^[67]

Non-avian dinosaurs [edit]

Scansoriopterygidae is unique among dinosaurs for the development of membranous wings, unlike the feathered airfoils of other theropods. Much like modern anomalures information technology adult a bony rod to help support the wing, albeit on the wrist and not the elbow.

Fish [edit]

Thoracopteridae is a lineage of Triassic flying fish-like Perleidiformes, having converted their pectoral and pelvic fins into broad wings very like to those of their modern counterparts. The Ladinian genus Potanichthys is the oldest member of this clade, suggesting that these fish began exploring aerial niches before long afterwards the Permian-Triassic extinction upshot.

Volaticotherids predate bats every bit mammalian aeronauts by at least 110 meg years

Mammals [edit]

Volaticotherium antiquum. A gliding eutriconodont, long considered the primeval gliding mammal until the discovery of contemporary gliding haramiyidans. It lived effectually 164 one thousand thousand years agone and used a fur-covered peel membrane to glide through the air.^[68] The closely related Argentoconodon is also idea to have been able to glide, based on postcranial similarities; it lived around 165 million years agone, during the Middle-Tardily Jurassic of what is now Mainland china^[69]
The haramiyidans Vilevolodon, Xianshou, Maiopatagium and Arboroharamiya known from the Heart-Belatedly Jurassic of Red china had extensive patagia, highly convergent with those of colugos.^[70]
A gliding metatherian (maybe a marsupial) is known from the Paleocene of Itaboraí, Brazil.^[71]
A gliding rodent belonging to the extinct family Eomyidae, Eomys quercyi is known from the tardily Oligocene of Germany.^[72]

Come across likewise [edit]

Animal locomotion
Flight mythological creatures
Insect thermoregulation
Organisms at high altitude

References [edit]

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External links [edit]

Media related to Animal flight at Wikimedia Commons

Canopy Locomotion from Mongabay online magazine
Learn the Secrets of Flight from Vertebrate Flying Exhibit at UCMP
Canopy life
Insect flying, photographs of flight insects – Rolf Nagels
Map of Life - "Gliding mammals" – University of Cambridge

cunninghamthattable.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_and_gliding_animals

What Is the Only Mammal That Can Fly

Types [edit]

Unpowered [edit]

Powered flight [edit]

Externally powered [edit]

Development and ecology [edit]

Gliding and parachuting [edit]

Powered flight evolution [edit]

Biomechanics [edit]

Gliding and parachuting [edit]

Powered flight [edit]

Limits and extremes [edit]

Flight and soaring [edit]

Gliding and parachuting [edit]

Flying animals [edit]

Extant [edit]

Insects [edit]

Birds [edit]

Mammals [edit]

Extinct [edit]

Reptiles [edit]

Non-avian dinosaurs [edit]

Gliding animals [edit]

Extant [edit]

Insects [edit]

Spiders [edit]

Molluscs [edit]

Fish [edit]

Amphibians [edit]

Reptiles [edit]

Mammals [edit]

Extinct [edit]

Reptiles [edit]

Non-avian dinosaurs [edit]

Fish [edit]

Mammals [edit]

Come across likewise [edit]

References [edit]

Further reading [edit]

External links [edit]

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