Do flying squirrels really fly?

Imagine you are driving through the forests and you see a furry animal flying from one tree to another! You think you saw a squirrel, given its bushy tail and small size. But wait, squirrels can't fly! So what did you see then? It definitely didn't have wings!  

These fuzzy cute creatures are the giant flying squirrels of Asia. Currently, more than 50 species of such flying squirrels are seen in the tropical forests of Asia including India, Europe, and North America. With large shining eyes customized for night vision; long, bushy tails, and long, slender legs, these nocturnal squirrels have long, soft fur that has a dense silky or woolly texture. Their body weight varies from 2.2 to 5.5 pounds, and their length varies between 30 to 60 cm.  

Although bats are the only mammals that can fly, some unique squirrels have been seen swooping overhead at night in many forests. Seen soaring across woods for more than twelve million years, these cute creatures don't actually fly. Then why do they appear to be flying? Well, let's find out more fun facts about these creatures and why they appear to be flying.  

Flying squirrel is a misnomer 
Northern squirrels are known as flying squirrels, but they don't fly as they lack the ability to sustain flight in any form. The flying journey that began with gliding from tree to tree has evolved several times over the centuries. They can now ‘sail’ over great distances thanks to a peculiar membrane-like skin that stretches between their front and rear legs. This is called a patagium.  

When a flying squirrel leaps from a tree, its furry patagia, which extends from wrist to ankle, functions as a parachute and enables it to glide through the air. The flying squirrel can glide up to 300 feet. Wow! Additionally, it can rotate 180 degrees. The gliding ability of this furry mammal helps them escape pursuing predators or hunt a flying insect for prey.  

Ancient creatures 
Flying squirrels are one of the coolest-looking animals on earth. In 2002, at a landfill in Catalonia, Spain, a team of scientists found giant fossils. Earlier thought to be the fossils of primates, further study revealed a family tree of flying squirrels. This study suggested that prehistoric giant flying squirrels roam around in present-day Catalonia, and have changed very little in almost 12 million years! Another study published in eLife shows Miopetaurista neogrivensis (squirrel species) to be the oldest (11.6 million years) giant flying squirrel discovered. 

Talkative social mammals 
These nocturnal and active flying squirrels dwell in groups of eight or more adults with juveniles. Being gregarious animals, they share nests and spend most of their time on trees to protect themselves from predators. As they glide through the trees, these squirrels make high-pitched, chirping noises to communicate with others of their ilk. They typically communicate in the first few hours after sundown to communicate their location and perhaps the best places to find food. Unfortunately, humans can't hear them as the cries occur at much higher frequencies than the human ear can detect. 

In addition, they use squawk-like noises to communicate with other species too. Sometimes squirrels may even communicate with predators and warn them to stay away! Talk about small but powerful little things!