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Gliding Mammals of the World

The world’s gliding mammals are an extraordinary group of animals that have the ability to glide from tree to tree with seemingly effortless grace. There are more than 60 species of gliding mammals including the flying squirrels from Europe and North America, the scaly-tailed flying squirrels from central Africa and the gliding possums of Australia and New Guinea.

Orders of gliding mammls

DIPROTODONTIA
DIPROTODONTIA

The Diprotodontia are an order of about 125 species of marsupial mammals including the kangaroos, wallabies, possums, koala, wombats, and many others.

DERMOPTERA
DERMOPTERA

Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in Southeast Asia. Just two extant species make up the entire family Cynocephalidae and order Dermoptera.

RODENTIA
RODENTIA

Rodents are mammals of the order Rodentia, which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws.

Random species

Mahogany Glider / Petaurus gracilis

Mahogany Glider
Petaurus gracilis

Arrow-tailed Flying Squirrel / Hylopetes sagitta

Arrow-tailed Flying Squirrel
Hylopetes sagitta

Red Giant Flying Squirrel / Petaurista petaurista

Red Giant Flying Squirrel
Petaurista petaurista

Temminck’s Flying Squirrel / Petinomys setosus

Temminck’s Flying Squirrel
Petinomys setosus

Gliding Mammals of the World provides, for the first time, a synthesis of all that is known about the biology of these intriguing mammals. It includes a brief description of each species, together with a distribution map and a beautiful full-color painting.

An introduction outlines the origins and biogeography of each group of gliding mammals and examines the incredible adaptations that allow them to launch themselves and glide from tree to tree.