#flying lemurs

A Fantastic Sunda Flying Lemur

Somewhat misnamed, the Sunda flying lemur or Sunda colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) is a species of small, gliding mammal native to the tropical rainforests of southeast Asia. Galeopterus variegatus is not a lemur, but they are closely related to primates.  They spend their entire lives in the canopy, and is actually fairly helpless on the ground. Like other gliding mammals, the Sunda colugo is specially adapted for its lifestyle: a thin membrane of skin called the patagium connects all four of their limbs and the tail, and allows them to move smoothly from one tree to another. The tail can also be converted into a pouch which the Sunda colugo can use to carry its young while climbing or gliding.

Sunda flying lemurs mate throughout the year, and after a short two month pregnancy, females give birth to just one baby. Male parental care is uncommon, although Sunda flying lemurs can live in loose groups within an area. Young are weaned after only six months, although they generally stay with their mother for up to three years. During that time, the mother may mate again, and females are able to nurse one baby while pregnant with another. Their lifespan is unknown, although some captive individuals were as old as seventeen when they died.

As with many lemur-like species, Sunda colugos are herbivorous. Fruit takes up a large part of their diet, although they also feed on flowers, buds, and sap. Their specialized, comb-shaped lower insicors are thought to have been developed to scrape sap from trees or flowers. They are also known to lick the bark of certain trees to obtain various nutrients and water. G. variegatus is mainly nocturnal; during the day they sleep in branches or holes of trees, and at night travel through the treetops to look for food and potential mates. They are exceptionally skilled gliders, capable of travelling over 100 meters without losing much elevation, and can use their tail and limbs to change direction or slow down.