Dermopterans (order Dermoptera), commonly known as colugos or "flying lemurs" (though they are neither true flyers nor lemurs), are remarkable mammals distinguished by their extraordinary ability to glide. They possess a unique, extensive membrane of skin—called a patagium—that stretches between their limbs, tail, and even fingers, enabling them to glide impressively between trees. This adaptation makes them some of the most efficient gliders among mammals. Dermopterans are largely nocturnal, herbivorous, and have a fossil record suggesting ancient origins. Their closest living relatives are primates, and they occupy a niche in Southeast Asian tropical forests where only two genera, both in the single family Dermopteridae, are recognized today.
- Order: Dermoptera
- Common name: Colugos, flying lemurs
- Unique gliding membrane (patagium) for aerial locomotion
- Strictly arboreal, found in tropical Southeast Asia
- Closest relatives: Primates
- Only one extant family: Dermopteridae
The patagium is used for gliding between trees.
Dermopterans are closely related to primates.
Dermopterans are native to Southeast Asia.
Dermopterans are not capable of powered flight; they glide.
Dermopterans are primarily herbivorous.
What is a Dermopteran?
Dermopterans use a gliding membrane to move between trees.
Dermopterans are nocturnal, herbivorous, and use gliding for locomotion.
Dermopterans belong to the order Dermoptera.
Dermopterans are primarily found in Southeast Asia.
Colugos, or dermopterans, are remarkable for their extensive patagium—a membrane stretching from neck to tail and between digits—that enables efficient gliding over long distances, conserving energy and avoiding ground predators. They are nocturnal herbivores feeding on leaves, flowers, and sap, with specialized teeth for processing fibrous plant material. Classified under the order Dermoptera, they inhabit the dense tropical forests of Southeast Asia and are considered living fossils due to their ancient lineage.
- Unique gliding membrane (patagium) for long-distance leaping
- Nocturnal and herbivorous: leaves, flowers, sap
- Only two living species, both in family Dermopteridae
- Fossil record indicates ancient divergence from primates and other mammals
Dermopterans mainly eat leaves and other fibrous plant materials.
Dermopterans inhabit tropical rainforest environments.
Examples of Dermopterans: Dermoptera
The genus Colugo includes the most well-known dermopterans.
Extant dermopterans are characterized by a large gliding membrane, nocturnal habits, and an arboreal lifestyle.
The order Dermoptera includes just a handful of species, all remarkable for their extensive gliding membranes and arboreal, nocturnal lifestyles. The two recognized species of colugos—Galeopterus variegatus (Sunda colugo) and Cynocephalus volans (Philippine colugo)—are found exclusively in Southeast Asia. Their unique morphology, including a wing-like patagium and clawed digits, differentiates them from other gliding mammals, while their specialized dentition supports a largely herbivorous diet of leaves and shoots.
| Feature | Dermopterans (Dermoptera) |
|---|---|
| Number of species | ~2 extant species |
| Distribution | Southeast Asia |
| Key genera | Galeopterus, Cynocephalus |
| Locomotion | Gliding (via patagium) |
| Activity | Nocturnal |
| Diet | Herbivorous (foliage, shoots) |
- Two extant species: Sunda colugo (Galeopterus variegatus), Philippine colugo (Cynocephalus volans)
- Found in tropical forests of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand
- Extraordinary gliding ability enabled by patagium extending to tips of fingers and toes
- Close evolutionary relationship with primates suggested by molecular data
Conclusion
Dermopterans (Dermoptera) are extraordinary mammals defined by their gliding membranes and close evolutionary ties to primates. As nocturnal, herbivorous residents of Southeast Asia’s tropical forests, they fill a unique ecological niche with only a few living species worldwide.
- Colugos use a remarkable patagium for efficient gliding, not flying.
- They are some of the closest living relatives to primates within mammals.
- Extant dermopterans are limited to two species in Southeast Asian rainforests.