Animals You Didn’t Know Could Fly
In the animal kingdom, birds and bats are the only animals blessed with the innate ability to soar the skies. But mother nature had a couple of tricks up her sleeves, because now there are creatures who have developed the ability to become airborne, even if only for a few seconds. Evolution has proved that animals will do whatever it takes when it comes to survival, and this list is clear proof of that. From amphibians and reptiles to cephalopods and arachnids, here are a couple of animals that you didnāt know could fly.
1. Flying snakes
Here in the West, weād lose our minds at the sight of snakes flying in our direction. Luckily for us, these snakes are only found in Southeast Asia. No, they donāt actually fly but can sustain a steady flight by flattening their body into a āpseudo concave wingā thatās C-shaped and allows them to glide across short distances. These skilled aerialists use this unique ability to quickly ambush their prey such as lizards, rodents, birds and frogs. And if youāre still scared, then take solace in knowing that humans are not part of their menu.
2. Flying squid
So youāre sailing off the coast of Japan when a squid suddenly leaps out of the water, seemingly flying. That would be the Japanese flying squid and they are able to glide across the ocean, covering as much as 11.2 meters in just a second. They do this by propelling their bodies out of the water at high speeds, then spreading and extending their fins and arms into a vertical position to keep their body airborne. Scientists theorize that this behavior is a defense mechanism as the poor squids are simply trying to not become someone elseās meal!
3. Ballooning spiders
Spiders are scary enough on their own, but what about those that can āfly?ā Sounds like a reason to burn down the house and never look back. But despite their names, this light species of spiders does not actually balloon up, rather they release their silk threads at high altitudes that, once caught in the wind, acts like a sort of parachute, so they can soar from one point to another. What makes this ability unique is that itās externally powered and in rare cases, theyāre capable of traveling hundreds of kilometers.
4. Chinese flying frog
Chinese flying frogs or Blanfordās whipping frogs spend the majority of their time in trees. In fact, the only time they come down is for breeding purposes. Thatās why these large frogs have evolved to save energy by gliding instead of hopping to their destination, allowing them to cover a lot more distance in a single trip. Itās thanks to their uniquely shaped webbed hands and feet that this is possible. When they leap, the frog extends its limbs outward, enabling them to gently glide downward to the forest floor.Ā
5. Draco lizards
Draco lizards are appropriately named because they really do look like mini dragons when they take flight. Evolution has gifted these tiny lizards with distinct features including elongated ribs and the patagia which are basically flaps along the sides of their body and under their neck. Without these, they wouldnāt be able to achieve flight, with some having attained an impressive record of 50 meters! They do this for a number of reasons but mainly to find mates and meals, to protect their territory and of course, to avoid predators.
Recent Posts
-
Surprising Facts About the Byzantine Empire
01 | 04 | 2023
The Byzantine Empire, located in modern-day Turkey, was quite an interesting civilization with a unique cultureāthey called themselves Romans but spoke Greek. And thanks to all their surviving artwork, literature and architecture, we have a pretty clear picture of what life back then must have been like back then. Thereās so much to cover but […]
-
The Most Amazing Double Agents in History
01 | 03 | 2023
In a world that is fueled by success, competition and the idea of survival of the fittest, the role of double agents is never redundant. Double agents are known for bringing to the table their skills as intelligence operative; spies who pose as working for another agency while actually serving the organization they claim to […]
-
Forgotten Accomplishments of President Lincoln
01 | 02 | 2023
Without a doubt, Abraham Lincoln is one of Americaās most cherished presidents whose achievements marked some of the greatest turning points in the nationās history. Everyone knows of his role in the Civil War which led to the signing of the 13th Amendment. But did you know that he was the first to make Thanksgiving […]
-
Gifts Given Between Countries
01 | 01 | 2023
Be it due to friendship, gratitude or celebration, the exchanging of gifts is a really old tradition that has been around for thousands of years. Many times, a country will often go to great lengths to strengthen their ties with another, usually for diplomatic reasons. And in this article, weāve selected five remarkable items that […]
-
How Things Worked Before Life-Changing Inventions
12 | 31 | 2022
Modern humans, especially in western countries, live a life of relative ease, despite always finding petty things to complain about. We live much longer than we ever did before thanks to all those amazing discoveries and technological advancements. But what about days gone by when people had to do everything themselves? Well in the article, […]