It glides like a bat, climbs like a squirrel, and looks like something out of a fantasy film… but it\u2019s not a lemur, and it doesn\u2019t technically fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meet the Sunda flying lemur<\/strong> (Galeopterus variegatus<\/em>), one of Southeast Asia\u2019s most mysterious and misunderstood mammals. Despite its name, this animal isn\u2019t a lemur, nor does it truly fly \u2013 it\u2019s a colugo<\/strong>, and it\u2019s in a class of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve never heard of it, you\u2019re not alone. The Sunda colugo is one of those secretive creatures that rarely makes the spotlight, even though it\u2019s one of the best gliders in the animal kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colugos are small, tree-dwelling mammals native to Southeast Asia. There are only two species<\/strong> in the entire order Dermoptera<\/strong>, and the Sunda flying lemur is the more widespread of the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their gliding skills, colugos are not<\/em> closely related to bats or flying squirrels. In fact, their closest relatives are… primates<\/strong>! That\u2019s right, colugos are more closely related to monkeys and humans than to bats or rodents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes the colugo so extraordinary is its patagium<\/strong> \u2013 a thin membrane of skin that stretches from its neck to the tips of its fingers, toes, and tail. This skin flap creates a massive surface area that acts like a biological hang-glider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re considered the best gliders of all mammals<\/strong> in terms of distance and control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sunda colugos are strictly nocturnal and spend their days curled up on tree trunks, camouflaged by their mottled fur. At night, they venture out in search of food:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their sharp claws help them climb effortlessly, but they\u2019re slow and clumsy on the ground<\/strong>, which is why they rarely descend from the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The name \u201cflying lemur\u201d is misleading for two reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, the name has stuck, much to the confusion of wildlife fans everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Female colugos give birth to a single tiny baby after a short gestation period. Like marsupials, they carry their young against their abdomen, with the gliding membrane wrapped around them like a pouch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The baby stays with the mother for several months, clinging tight as she climbs and glides through the treetops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While not currently endangered, Sunda flying lemurs face ongoing threats:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are protected in many parts of their range, but conservation relies heavily on preserving forest habitats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sunda flying lemur is one of nature\u2019s quietest wonders, a gliding ghost that lives in the treetops and rarely makes a sound. It doesn\u2019t roar, sting, or charge. Instead, it sails silently from tree to tree, hidden in the leafy shadows of the rainforest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s a reminder that not all wild wonders are loud or large: some are soft, strange, and soaring quietly above our heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun Fact<\/strong>: Though often mistaken for a flying squirrel, colugos are in their own entirely separate order<\/em> of mammals and are more genetically similar to primates than any rodent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay tuned for the next spotlight in our Miniature Marvels<\/em> series: the bumblebee bat<\/a><\/strong>\u2014a winged puffball so tiny, it could fit on your fingertip. It\u2019s the world\u2019s smallest mammal, and it’s as mysterious as it is minuscule.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Exactly Is<\/em> a Colugo?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nBuilt to Glide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nLife in the Trees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nNot a Lemur, Not a Flier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nReproduction and Parenting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThreats and Conservation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFinal Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nMore photos below \u2193<\/h4>\n\n\n\n