Dermoptera

Dermoptera, also known as colugos or flying lemurs, are a small group of mammals that are capable of gliding through the air. They are found in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia, where they use their broad patagium (wing-like membrane) to glide between trees. There are two species of dermoptera, the Sunda colugo and the Philippine colugo. These animals are unique in that they are the only mammals capable of sustained flight, although they cannot actually fly. They have a wide variety of adaptations that allow them to move swiftly through the trees, including an unusually long tail, which allows for stability in the air, and webbed feet, which are used for climbing. Dermoptera are important for their role in the ecosystem, providing a food source for predators such as owls and eagles, as well as dispersing the seeds of the plants in which they live. They are also of particular interest to scientists, providing insight into the evolution of flight in mammals, and into the structure and function of their wings.