flying squirrel
a flying squirrel gliding
a kind of animal – mammal – rodent – belongs to the squirrels – soft body with big black eyes, long bushy tail, brown or grey coat (hair); having a skin fold on either side of the body connecting the front and back legs; grows to 5-12 inches long (some Asian kinds grow to 4 feet); weighs 110-180 grams; feeds on (eats) plant matter, nuts, mushroom, insects, birds’ eggs and some times small birds; lives for 6 years in the wild and 10-15 years in captivity; about 42 species (kinds) found mostly in Asia, and Europe, North America and Africa(?)
female ~~ doe
baby ~~ pup, kit, kitten
voice (call) ~~ squeal, bark (?)
home ~~ dray; nest (the holes lined with leaves in the tree trunks, preferably dead trees)
the folds of skin on the sides
A flying squirrel does not actually fly like a bird. It leaps from one tree to another.
The flying squirrel has a fold of skin connecting the front leg to the back leg on either side of its body. These skin folds (called ‘patagium’) spread out like a parachute when the squirrel stretches its legs while leaping, thus changing the leap into a smooth glide!
Some flying squirrels can easily glide for 150 feet or so.
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