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The Secret Superpower of Flying Squirrels: How Do They Glide Through the Air Like Birds?
The flying squirrels gliding in the tree canopy have amazed many people at the capabilities of these small mammals. Although they have the word "flying" in their name, flying squirrels cannot actually fly like birds or bats. In contrast, flying squirrels rely on a unique membrane-like structure, the "wing membrane", and a long tail to carve out an elegant gliding path.
Flying squirrels have wing membranes, hair-covered membranes of skin that extend from wrist to ankle, that allow them to "glide" through the air rather than just jump.
The anatomy of these tiny creatures is similar to that of other squirrels, but their adaptations show they have adapted for a gliding lifestyle. Flying squirrels have long limb bones, while the bones of the hands and feet and the tail vertebrae are relatively short. This allows them to make more precise maneuvers and directional adjustments in the air.
According to molecular studies, the origin of flying squirrels can be traced back to about 18 to 20 million years ago and is a monophyletic group, closely related to tree squirrels. The morphological differences between the two squirrels also shed light on how the gliding mechanism evolved.
Compared to ordinary squirrels, flying squirrels can change the direction and speed of movement by adjusting the position of their limbs while gliding, which allows them to turn gracefully in the air.
Evolutionary history and gliding mechanism
The evolutionary history of flying squirrels has attracted much discussion among experts, and initially many theories could not clearly explain the reasons for their evolution. However, through recent molecular research, scientists have discovered that gliding may be a way to improve energy efficiency and facilitate foraging. Sliding between trees allows you to move quickly, which is safer and less labor-intensive than climbing along a tree trunk or jumping from one tree to another.
In addition, when faced with the threat of predators, the flying squirrels' gliding mechanism allows them to quickly escape to another tree and avoid danger.
Other theories exist about the mechanics of how flying squirrels glide. Some scientists have suggested that gliding may have evolved as a way to avoid the risk of high-impact impacts when moving between trees. Specifically, the flying squirrels' gliding involves structures and techniques that allow them to maintain stability when landing and effectively absorb the impact of landing, which is a very important survival strategy.
Life habits and food sources
Flying squirrels are usually active at night and their food sources are wide-ranging, including fruits, seeds, insects, mushrooms and so on. Because they have a well-developed sense of smell, they can easily search for food at night. During the search, the speed and agility of gliding allow them to reach more food sources more efficiently.
Their diverse diet not only reflects changes in the ecological environment, but also enables flying squirrels to survive in a variety of environments, demonstrating their high adaptability.
Reproduction and life cycle
During the breeding season, flying squirrels usually choose to mate between February and March each year, and the female squirrels will raise their newborn babies in the nest. When they are first born, the baby mice have almost no hair and cannot respond to the external environment, but as they grow, they will gradually learn the skill of sliding and become able to survive independently in about ten weeks.
The lifespan of a flying squirrel is about six years in the wild and up to 15 years in zoos. Despite this, the mortality rate of young squirrels is relatively high, also because they face natural enemies.
In many areas, the main natural enemies of flying squirrels include owls, raccoons and various carnivores, which is one of the reasons why they choose to be active at night.
Conclusion
The flying squirrel's gliding ability not only reshapes our understanding of small mammals, it's also an amazing biological adaptation in nature. These cute little creatures fly freely in the air like little birds. Is it worthwhile for us to further explore their survival strategies and their importance in the ecosystem?
