Malayan flying Lemur

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

 

Facts about this animal

In spite of its name "flying lemur", this species is not a prosimian like the true lemurs, but belongs to a zoological order of their own, the DERMOPTERA ("skinwings"), which contains only one genus with two species, the Malayan and the Philippine flying lemurs.

 

The Malayan flying lemur, or "colugo", is mottled brownish or greyish above and paler below. Its head-body length ranges from 36–43 cm, the tail is about 22-27 cm long. Body-weight ranges from 1'000-1'750 g. Females are slightly larger than males.

 

Differently from bats, flying lemurs do not really fly, but a membrane stretching from the forelimbs to the tail, called patagium allows them to glide from tree to tree. Although the colugo's teeth resemble those of carnivores, its diet consists of fruit and leaves. It sleeps by day and forages at dusk.

 

Females give birth to one single young, rarely twins, following a gestation period of 60 days. Newborn flying lemurs are relatively undeveloped and, until weaned, are carried clinging to the belly of the mother, who can also fold the patagiumnear the tail into a soft, warm pouch for this purpose.

 

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 77 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

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Photo Copyright by
Nick Baker, Ecology Asia