Fantastic flyers: 10 animals that fly in surprising ways

1. Colugos

The colugo (Cynocephalidae) can glide for 100 metres or more between trees, making it one of the most skilled gliding mammal. It's found in southeast Asia and is sometimes referred to as the flying lemur.

Its membrane, the patagium, is like that of the flying squirrel except it starts at its face and covers its fingers and toe tips through to the tail. 

The colugo's limbs and tail are long and slender, and its feet are broad and have strong, sharp recurved claws for climbing. Its lightweight skeleton and wide surface area of the patagium perfectly equip it for gliding.

Colugos have large eyes that give them brilliant depth perception, which helps them to glide between trees and land safely. They are such skilled gliders that they can transport their babies on to their stomachs until they are old enough to glide on their own. 

Colugos eat saps, leaves and shoots. They have comb-shaped teeth, which some scientists believe may act as food strainers or scrapers, or maybe used for grooming to remove parasites from their fur. Habitat fragmentation, hunting  and deforestation are threatening their numbers.

2. Paradise tree snake

The paradise tree snake (Chrysopelea paradisi) can glide by flattening and stiffening its body while held in an S-shape. It can even make slight turns in the air by moving its body, and they undulate to maintain stability. By tilting their bodies 25 to 30 degrees against the airflow it stays aerodynamic and can travel more than 20 metres.

Paradise tree snakes feed on geckos and other lizards, bats, and frogs. They live in southeast Asia and reach lengths of up to 1.5 metres. They are diurnal and are easy to identify due to their bright colouring and red flower-like scales. 

7. Japanese flying squid

The Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus), also known as the Japanese common squid, is native to the north Pacific Ocean, specifically around Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the Bering Strait. The female is larger than the male, growing up to 50 centimetres long. Like many other cephalopods they can change colour to match their environment, helping to camouflage them from predators.

The Japanese flying squid uses jet propulsion to speed through the water. It does this by taking water into its mantle (the muscular cavity that protects the squid's body) and pushing it out through the siphon (a tube-like structure used to expel water, waste and ink).

This jet propulsion is so powerful that Japanese flying squid are able to propel themselves out of the water and glide by spreading out their fins and arms creating aerodynamic lift. Once in the air, they can travel up to 11 metres per second. It is believed they use this gliding ability to escape predators but also to travel quickly - they can move five times faster through air than water. Japanese flying squid use their quick speed to catch the fish and crustaceans that make up their diet. 

8. Draco lizard

The small draco lizard (Draco volans) relies on its gliding ability to escape predators, find food and even attract a mate. They live in  the jungles of southeast Asia and mostly eat ants and termites. 

It has elongated ribs which extend and retract as needed, and between the ribs is a fold of skin which acts as wings when unfolded. Draco lizards use their tails to steer and can travel distances of up to 58 metres. They can turn their wrists 90 degrees to grab their 'wings' while in flight.

Draco lizards grow to just 20 centimetres including their tails. The underside of their wings is blue in males and yellow in females, while their dewlap (the skin at the base of their neck) is yellow in males and blue-grey in females. Males are very territorial and will use their gliding skills to chase other lizards from the trees they see as their own.