flying lemur

flying lemur
either of two lemurlike mammals, Cynocephalus variegatus, of southeastern Asia and the East Indies, or C. volans, of the Philippines, having broad folds of skin on both sides of the body to aid in gliding from tree to tree: now rare.
[1880-85]

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mammal
also called  colugo  
 either of the two species of primitive gliding mammals (mammal) found only in Southeast Asia and on some of the Philippine Islands. Flying lemurs resemble large flying squirrels (flying squirrel), as they are arboreal climbers and gliders that have webbed feet with claws. The form of the head and the nocturnal habit, however, recall the lemurs (lemur), hence their name. The long limbs and the tail are connected by broad folds of skin, as in bats (bat). The limbs are outstretched when the animal leaps from high in the trees, and its controlled glide can cover 70 metres (230 feet) while losing little altitude.

      Besides the Philippine species, Cynocephalus volans, a series of races of Cynocephalus variegatus ranges from Myanmar (Burma) to the Malay Peninsula and from the islands of Sumatra to Borneo. Flying lemurs were formerly classified as insectivores (insectivore), but they differ from them and from other mammals in several basic anatomical features, especially in the form of the brain and in the dentition. The teeth (34) are peculiar in that the lower incisors stick out in a comblike structure formed of enamel folds; the second upper incisors are similar to canine teeth and are double-rooted. Canines are absent in the upper jaw. Cheek teeth (premolars and molars) bear sharp cusps. The digestive tract exhibits specializations to a strict vegetarian diet. Although flying lemurs share some characteristics with certain bats (flying foxes (flying fox) of suborder Megachiroptera), they are most closely related to the primates.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Flying lemur — Flying Fly ing, a. [From {Fly}, v. i.] Moving in the air with, or as with, wings; moving lightly or rapidly; intended for rapid movement. [1913 Webster] {Flying army} (Mil.) a body of cavalry and infantry, kept in motion, to cover its own… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Flying lemur — Fly ing le mur (Zo[ o]l.) either of two nocturnal lemurlike mammals inhabiting the East Indies ({Cynocephalus variegatus}) or the Phillipines ({Cynocephalus volans}) having broad folds of skin between the fore and hind limbs on both sides of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flying lemur — n. any of an order (Dermoptera) of tree dwelling mammals of SE Asia, having a broad fold of skin on each side of the body between the forelimbs and the tail, that enables it to make long, gliding leaps …   English World dictionary

  • flying lemur — malajinis kaguanas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Cynocephalus variegatus angl. flying lemur; Malayan flying lemur vok. Temminck Gleitflieger rus. малайский шерстокрыл ryšiai: platesnis terminas –… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • flying lemur — Colugo Co*lu go, n. [Prob. an aboriginal name.] (Zo[ o]l.) A peculiar East Indian mammal ({Galleopithecus volans}), having along the sides, connecting the fore and hind limbs, a parachutelike membrane, by means of which it is able to make long… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flying lemur — noun arboreal nocturnal mammal of southeast Asia and the Philippines resembling a lemur and having a fold of skin on each side from neck to tail that is used for long gliding leaps • Syn: ↑flying cat, ↑colugo • Hypernyms: ↑placental, ↑placental… …   Useful english dictionary

  • flying lemur — noun a nocturnal lemur like mammal with a membrane between the fore and hindlimbs for gliding from tree to tree. [Genus Cynocephalus: two species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • flying lemur — /flaɪɪŋ ˈlimə/ (say fluying leemuh) noun either of two South East Asian mammals of the genus Cynocephalus, order Dermoptera, superficially lemur like but having a broad fold of skin on each side of the body to act as a wing in gliding from tree… …  

  • flying lemur — noun Date: 1883 either of two East Indian or Philippine arboreal nocturnal mammals (Cynocephalus volans and C. variegatus) that are about the size of a cat, that make long gliding leaps using a broad fold of skin on each side attached to and… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • flying lemur — noun the colugo …   Wiktionary

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