Technically, only birds can fly. But which animals can FAKE fly?
Technically, only birds can fly. But which animals can FAKE fly?
Flying is a remarkable ability that has evolved in birds over millions of years of evolution.
Birds are the only creatures on the planet that are capable of sustained flight, and they have adapted their bodies in incredible ways to make this possible - from lightweight hollow bones, to smaller but more efficient brains, and so much more!
Although birds are the only creatures capable of true flight, there are other animals that have evolved other ways to take to the air. One such method is gliding.
Gliding is a form of "fake" flight, where an animal uses air currents to glide through the air, rather than actively flapping their wings to fly.
Gliding is a form of flight that involves descending through the air without the need for powered flapping of the wings, like in birds.
Instead, gliders use air currents to stay aloft and maintain altitude, much like a paper airplane would glide through the air without being propelled. The downside, of course, is that a glider needs to start high - they can’t use this ability to ‘flap’ up, up and away!
Over 160 species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians have the power to glide. These creatures come from a variety of backgrounds, from the tiny tiny tiny sugar gliders to the massive flying squirrels.
Just like flying, gliding has evolved as a means of survival and a way to travel from tree to tree, escape predators, and conserve energy.
Let’s learn about some of these animals today!
Sugar gliders and their “patagia”
Sugar gliders, native to Australia and parts of New Guinea, are small marsupials that have evolved their own personal wingsuit!
Why’s that?
Well, sugar gliders are native to the forest canopies of Australia, where there are no bridges or pathways connecting the trees.
They’re not as big as monkeys that can swing from branch to branch, nor as agile as squirrels, so sugar gliders have had to evolve a new method: gliding!
By gliding through the air, sugar gliders are able to move from tree to tree with ease, without having to risk falling to the ground. Additionally, gliding is a much more efficient way for one to move through the forest, as it conserves energy compared to climbing and jumping.
So how do they do it?
As mentioned earlier, they have their own personal “wingsuits”. Sugar gliders have skin flaps, known as patagia, that stretch between their legs and arms, allowing them to glide through the air with ease.
When their arms and legs are spread out, the patagia creates a parachute-like structure that catches the wind, helping the animal to glide from tree to tree.
Humans have actually learned from (and copied) these nifty creatures: ever heard of wingsuit flying?
Sugar gliders are little acrobats that can cover up to 150 meters in a single glide and have been known to navigate through the air with incredible precision. They make it look so easy, you'd think they were born with wings!
Paradise Tree Snakes
But sugar gliders aren't the only creatures gliding their way through the tree tops. In the rainforests of Southeast Asia, the Paradise Tree Snake has evolved the ability to glide from tree to tree in search of its next meal. Yum!
This snake is an expert glider. They have a normal, cylindrical shape (that you’d expect from a snake) but when they need to glide, they will FLATTEN their body so they look more like a piece of paper, and then launch themselves forwards - and glide distances of up to 40 meters!
How do they do it?
Paradise tree snakes will spread out their ribs, creating flaps of skin between their body segments that act as a sort of "parachute." This allows the paradise tree snake to travel from tree to tree with ease.
These guys are in full control, too, and can even make mid-air turns to change direction.
Fun fact: Paradise tree snakes are not venomous and feed mainly on small lizards and geckos. They use their agility and glide ability to catch prey in mid-air, making them highly efficient hunters in their forest habitat.
Next: Tree Frogs, who spend all their lives high in the trees
When you think of frogs, you’ll probably conjure up images of a chubby green thing sitting in a pond and croaking its guts out.
Let me introduce you to the elegant gliding frogs: a group of arboreal frogs that have adapted to their tree-dwelling habitat by evolving the ability to glide through the air!
These frogs have wide, webbed feet that act as gliding membranes, helping them to control their descent when they jump or fall from trees. This allows them to safely and efficiently move from tree to tree or to the ground below.
One of the most well-known species of gliding frog is the green flying frog.
These frogs are found in Southeast Asia (where I am from!!!) and are known for their vibrant green coloration and large, webbed feet.
They are able to glide up to 50 feet through the air and use this ability to avoid predators, escape danger, or find a new mate or food source.
In addition to their ability to glide, these tree-dwelling frogs have also adapted to their environment in other ways. For example, they have sticky pads on their feet that allow them to climb up and cling to smooth surfaces, such as tree trunks and leaves. They also have specialised muscles that help them to grip onto branches and other structures.
P.S., you may have noticed that two out of the three species I introduced today are native to Southeast Asia. That’s because this part of the world receives so much rain, TREES and rainforests are able to grow in abundance!! The animals that live high in the treetops have needed to evolve cool new ways to manoeuvre around their habitat. :)
While gliding is not true flight, it is still an incredible feat of adaptation that has allowed these animals to thrive in their environments. Flying, whether through active flapping or gliding, offers many benefits to animals, including the ability to escape danger, travel long distances, and gain a unique perspective on their surroundings.
It is truly amazing how nature has evolved these incredible abilities in the animal kingdom, and how they have mastered the skies!
So fun! Animals are amazing! I recently wrote about "vampire flying frogs," which are quite interesting. Flying snakes - even gliding snakes - just too much for my brain to wrap around!! It goes static-y like an old TV and all I hear is "NO! NO! NO!" :)