Want To Fly? Trivia Quiz

Answer: flying frogs glide at angles shallower than 45 degrees

As is true for all animals, the difference between gliding and parachuting is the angle at which the animal falls. An animal that is able to move through the air with a descent shallower than 45 degrees is capable of gliding. Frogs that are able to glide do so with extra-large webbing around their toes.

The webbing provides them with the surface area necessary for gliding, and in some cases, maneuverability too. There are two families (Rhacophoridae and Hylidae) of frogs capable of gliding, and they are found in many parts of the world.

Answer: colugo

Colugos are unique mammals found in southeastern Asia, and are believed to be the closest living relatives of primates. Colugos have tree-patterned camouflage to help them hide during the day. At night, they become active and forage for leaves. Like all flying and gliding mammals, colugos have a membrane called a patagium; unlike other mammals, a colugo's patagium runs across its entire body. Little is known about colugos, and both species of colugo are threatened by habitat loss.

Answer: pectoral (side)

Flying fish have existed for tens of millions of years. They live in all oceans, and feed primarily on plankton. They in turn are fed on by birds, bigger fish, and cetaceans. Taking to the air helps flying fish avoid their predators. They have enlarged pectoral fins that act like wings, carrying them great distances when they leap out of the water. Flying fish with two fins tend to be faster in the water, while those with four fins tend to spend more time in the air.

The longest-recorded glide time of a flying fish is 45 seconds.

Answer: ribs

Draco lizards are small, common lizards found throughout south and southeast Asia. They spend most of their lives in trees, and eat insects. Draco lizards are able to glide great distances due to elongated ribs that can stretch out to form impromptu wings. Furthermore, they are able to steer themselves with their long tails.

This enables them to nimbly move about, and helps them avoid predators too. Draco lizards can glide as far as 200 ft (60 m), though distances of 30 ft (10 m) are more common.

They measure a mere 8 inches (20 cm) in length.

Answer: backwards

Flying squid are native to the Pacific Ocean, around Asia and the northern part of North America. Using its jet propulsion and large fins, it is able to propel itself out of the water for a few seconds, and can travel about 100 ft (30 m). When they leap out of the water, they do so backwards. Flying squid live only for about a year, dying soon after they spawn.

They are prey for many animals, and are fished for year-round.

Answer: energy-rich

Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight, the ability to exert aerodynamic force to stay in the air. Because powered flight required a lot more energy than gliding, bats prefer eating high-energy foods like insects and fruit. Smaller bats -- microbats -- usually consume insects, providing a welcome control on their populations.

They often use echolocation to find their prey. Larger bats -- megabats -- have good vision but do not have echolocation. They feed on fruit instead. Bats can be found across most parts of the world.

Answer: expansive fold of skin between their limbs

Did you think the skies were safe? If you visit southeast Asia, you may encounter snakes -- from above! Flying snakes, or Chrysopelea, look like ordinary snakes and move like ordinary snakes, at least until they get to the end of a tree branch. They can travel through air by flattening their bodies and altering the shape of their cross sections. By undulating their bodies while in the air, they can travel long distances.

Some are able to control their movement and direction very well. Flying snakes are mildly venomous and feed on small animals like lizards and rodents.

Answer: No

A number of rodents and rodent-like mammals are capable of flying, and it's not just a matter of name. Flying squirrels are squirrels, and can be found in North America and Asia. On the other hand, sugar gliders are possums, and are native to Australia. If in Africa, you could find anomalures, rodents sometimes known as scaly-tailed squirrels.

These critters have patagiums which stretch from their wrists to their ankles, enabling them to glide. Though they are different from each other, they have relatively similar diets and lifestyles.

Answer: ray

Rays, such as the manta ray, flap their fins as they move through the oceans. Some rays -- in particular, mobulas -- are called flying rays. They regularly breach the ocean's surface, jumping high out of the water but return pretty quickly. Though brief, the flapping of their fins gives the appearance of flying. Little is known about why mobulas breach.

When they gather in schools, only those at the edges breach, suggesting that the behavior may be related to feeding.

Answer: none of them

Flying lemur is an alternate name for the colugo, which is not a lemur; similarly, the flying fox is a type of megabat, not a fox. There is such a thing as a flying gecko, but no geckos are capable of flying. The only animals that have ever evolved the ability to fly are birds, insects, bats, and pterosaurs (which became extinct millions of years ago). Most animals with "flying" in their name are capable of gliding instead.

This is a fairly remarkable feat in and of itself, but does not reach the level of sophistication that true flight does.