Colugos

Sometimes called flying lemurs, colugos are neither lemurs nor true flyers. They are small creatures about the size of a domestic cat, with large eyes, a pointed face and long, sharp claws. There are two kinds: a Philippine species, Cynocephalus volans, and the somewhat larger, paler Malaysian species, C. variegates. Although they were once classified in either Insectivora or Chiroptera, they are today firmly ensconced in a separate order called Dermoptera (meaning "skin-winged"). These creatures can glide more than 320 feet (100 m) through the air, thanks to a thin, fur-covered membrane that extends from behind the ears down along the sides of the body to join the legs and tail. They keep out of sight during the day and emerge to travel upside down along tree branches at night. Colugos are equipped with comblike incisors, which they use to chew on vegetation and to groom themselves.

Colugos: A Family of One

order: dermoptera

family: cynocephalidae colugos

Next >>Bats

Mammals By Class: Monotremes Marsupials Anteaters, Sloths and Armadillos Insectivores Tree Shrews Colugos Bats Primates Carnivores Cetaceans Sirenians Elephants Ungulates Hyraxes Aardvarks Pangolins Rodents Lagomorphs Elephant-Shrews Main Menu