Colugo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ColugosTemporal range: Upper Palaeocene – Recent
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Dermoptera
Illiger, 1811
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Colugos are amazing gliding mammals. They belong to a special group called the order Dermoptera. There are only two types of colugos living today, and you can find them in Southeast Asia.
People sometimes call them 'flying lemurs'. But don't be fooled! They are not lemurs at all. All true lemurs live far away in Madagascar. Colugos are unique because they have a thin, furry membrane. This membrane stretches from their neck to their fingertips, toes, and even to the tip of their tail! This special skin lets them glide long distances through the air.
What are Colugos Like?
Colugos live in the warm, wet tropical rain forests of Southeast Asia. They are mostly active at night, which means they are nocturnal. During the day, they like to rest high up in the trees. They might cling to tree trunks or hide inside tree holes to stay safe.
When evening comes, colugos wake up and become busy. They glide from one tree to another, looking for food. They look like flat sheets of paper floating on the wind! Their diet is quite simple. They mostly eat leaves and young shoots from plants. Baby colugos are carried by their mothers. They cling tightly to the mother's special gliding membrane as she moves.
Where Do Colugos Live?
Colugos can be found in many parts of Southeast Asia. One type of colugo lives in places like Burma, Indochina, southern Thailand, and peninsular Malaysia. You can also find them in Singapore and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java. They are also common throughout Borneo.
A second type of colugo lives in the southern Philippines. Each species has its own special home range, but they all love the dense, green rainforests.
Images for kids
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Feet of a Philippine colugo.
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Lower jaw of a colugo (Galeopterus).
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Claw of a dead Malaysian colugo.
See also
In Spanish: Dermópteros para niños
