Plant life has been "flying" for millions of years. Leaves seem to take on a life of their own when caught up by the wind and float through the air before falling to the ground. As seeds disperse to find the perfect growing places they too seem to "fly" with the wind. Some, like dandelion seeds and milkweed pods have parachutes made of fine hairs which let them "fly" many miles through the air. Other seeds, like maple and ash, have helicopter "wings" that enable them to be whirled for long distances. But neither leaves or seeds are considered true flyers. They do not have flapping wings to propel them through the air, nor can they sustain flight for long periods of time. Leaves and seeds are considered gliders--their outstretched "wings" sustain flight with little or no movement. Gliding flight is also found among certain fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. It is also used part of the time by birds, including hawks, vultures, and gulls. These animals, too, can sustain periods of flight with little or no motion.

"Flying" fish achieve flightlike movements by means of large pectoral fins that serve as wings. With strong, thrashing movements of their tails they are able to propel themselves up to 35 feet out of the water. Once in the air, they spread their large, stiff pectoral fins to glide for flights up to 1,000 feet.

Amphibians and reptiles that glide through the air include "flying" frogs, "flying" lizards, and "flying" snakes. Webbing between the toes as well as extended flaps of abdominal skin are used by flying frogs and geckos. Extra folds of skin enable flying lizards and snakes to extend their ribs to stretch out their bodies and hold it stiff so that air caught underneath holds them up for a while. The golden tree snake of the Malayan Peninsula can "fly" from a tree to surprise its prey or escape an enemy. Once in the air, the snake can glide for 65 feet or more.

Gliding mammals include "flying" lemurs and "flying" squirrels. Both have folds of skin along the sides of their bodies that connect their front and hind limbs to help them glide, not fly, from tree to tree or from tree to ground. Although not a true lemur, the "flying" lemur, or Colugo, of Southeast Asia can spread its flaps of skin and glide through the air like a living parachute. It can glide as far as 450 feet between trees. The "flying" squirrels of Asia, North America and Europe use the furry membrane between their outstretched limbs to "parachute" from tree to tree using their long tails as rudders for maneuvering.

flying squirrel	flying lemur

Although true flyers, some birds also glide and soar. Perhaps to rest their wings, hawks, vultures, and gulls sometimes glide. As they glide, they drop lower and lower until finally they must start flapping again to stay up in the air. At other times, they have been known to soar higher and higher for hours on warm air currents called thermals.

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Last modified: Thu Jul 3 10:11:46 PDT 1997

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