When we think of flying animals, birds, bats, and pterosaurs usually come to mind. However, evolution and adaptation have produced many surprises, and flight has evolved in a variety of animals, including fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians It’s worth noting that there are different types of flight, including powered, unpowered, and externally powered In our modern urban world, some of these flying creatures may come as a surprise.
1. Mobulas
“Devil rays,” a group of rays with little known information, are known for their unique behavior of belly flopping Scientists often refer to them as ocean acrobats due to their impressive flips and twirls in the air before flopping back into the water These fish have large wing-like fins and swim in schools, usually using their strength to propel themselves out of the water up to two meters high While scientists haven’t been able to fully explain this behavior, there is a theory that suggests it may be a way to attract a mate and stand out from the crowd within the school. Males are typically the ones who jump out of the water, but females also participate According to the theory, the rays who impress the spectators with their leap and flop splash have a better chance of courting a mate The devil rays’ unique behavior is fascinating and adds to the variety of flight found in the animal kingdom.
2. Chinese flying frog
The Blanford’s whipping frog, also known as the large treefrog or Denny’s whipping frog, is a unique species of tree-dwelling frog that is able to achieve flight by gliding between trees With their webbed feet and hands that act like parachutes, these relatively large frogs are able to manage a gradual downward slant while gliding These frogs were first discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in the rainforests of Borneo in 1869 Wallace described their webbed toes as being fully webbed to their very extremity, providing a surface much larger than that of the body.
Gliding is an energy-efficient mode of transport for these frogs, who spend most of their time in trees and only come down to the ground or in water for breeding Their arboreal behavior has led to remarkable adaptations in their body, with visible differences from a typical frog These unique frogs showcase the diversity of flight in the animal kingdom, and their ability to glide between trees is a fascinating adaptation.
3. Gliding ants
Gliding ants are a fascinating species of arboreal insects that have evolved to master a unique mode of flight without wings Discovered relatively recently, biologists from the University of California published a paper on them in 2005 These ants have adapted to direct their fall from trees and find their way back to their original tree using visual cues, despite being wingless.
During their fall, gliding ants are capable of turning 180 degrees in the air and hitting the tree trunk backwards with their rear legs While often bouncing off, they have an estimated 85% success rate of landing on the same tree trunk According to Stephen P. Yanoviak, an insect ecologist from the University of Texas, the evolutionary driving mechanism behind this behavior is likely driven by the danger of falling out of trees and into water in the Amazon forests, which could lead to certain death.
4. Flying squirrels
Flying squirrels have been described by National Geographic as “living, breathing paper airplanes” due to their unique ability to glide through the air While they cannot fly like birds, flying squirrels utilize their patagium, a built-in parachute-like membrane that stretches from their wrist to ankle, to glide from tree to tree within forests. Their long tail acts as a stabilizer and brake, while their limbs are used for direction Flying squirrels’ gliding ability allows them to avoid predators that occupy the forest floor. They can glide anywhere from 40 to 150 meters, making them an impressive sight to behold. Unfortunately, these creatures have recently become the targets of an organized enterprise centered around smuggling them out of Florida to sell them as exotic pets.
Flying fish
Flying fish are a remarkable species of marine fish that have evolved the extraordinary ability to fly. They accomplish this by propelling themselves out of the water and gliding through the air using their wing-like fins. Though they don’t fly in the traditional sense like birds or bats, they glide like other animals, such as flying squirrels and draco lizards, using their fins to cover impressive distances of up to 400 meters.
These fascinating fish are commonly found in tropical oceans and are generally found within 200 meters of the surface. The Caribbean island nation of Barbados is known as “the land of the flying fish” due to the abundance of these incredible creatures in its waters. Flying fish have evolved to utilize the area above the water level, where they can escape predators and thrive in their environment.
In 2017, a Japanese TV crew filmed a flying fish staying airborne for a world record 45 seconds, beating the previous record set by American researchers in the 1920s, which was 42 seconds. Flying fish can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and use drafts off waves and beating their tail fins against the water surface to remain airborne.
The remarkable ability of flying fish to glide through the air is a testament to the incredible diversity of life on earth and highlights the fascinating adaptations that allow species to survive and thrive in their respective habitats.
