Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Nature's Gliding Machines: Flying Squírrels
MYTHS
Flying squirrels truly fly.
Flying squirrels are active only at night.
ALTHOUGH THEY'RE COMMON ENOUGH IN MANY FORESTED AREAS, THESE LITTLE
CREATURES ARE SEEN SO SELDOM THAT THEY MIGHT ALMOST BE CONSIDERED
WOODLAND GHOSTS. At night, perhaps, car headlights may for a fleeting second reveal what looks
like a large, square leaf passing overhead, leaving the occupants wondering exactly what it was that
they saw. More than likely, they glimpsed a flying squirrel—possibly the only view they would ever
have of one, outside a museum or zoo. Reclusive as these little rodents are, however, it's very much
worth the effort to learn about them, for they are wonderfully adapted for the sort of life that they lead.
The most basic fact about flying squirrels is that they don't! That is, despite their name, flying squir-
rels don't truly fly, as bats and birds do. Rather, they use a remarkable adaptation that enables them to
glide, and they could more accurately be called
gliding
squirrels.
And just how can a squirrel manage to glide? Very easily and well, as it turns out, thanks to a most
unusual and extraordinarily useful adaptation. A wide, loose flap of fur-covered skin extends outward
from each side of the flying squirrel's body and stretches from the front ankle back to the rear one.
When the squirrel wishes to “fly,” it simply launches itself into the air from high up in a tree and spreads
its legs to the widest extent possible. This action stretches out the flap of skin on each side, making
the squirrel resemble a large, square pancake with head, feet, and a tail. Stretched out in this fashion,
the squirrel, which weighs very little, has a large surface area to support it. This adaptation enables the
creature to glide laterally for a considerable distance before reaching the ground or a lower point on
another tree.
