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Taxa

Dermoptera

Mammal Orders

Dermoptera is an order of gliding mammals, commonly called colugos or flying lemurs, native to Southeast Asia and represented by just two living species, the Sunda flying lemur and the Philippine flying lemur, which together make up the single family Cynocephalidae. Their closest living relatives are the primates, and their name, from the Greek for skin and wing, refers to the extensive gliding membrane stretching from the neck to the tips of the digits and tail.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Order 1
Member Species/Taxa Count
2 1
Geographic Distribution
Southeast Asia 1
Defining Characteristics
Gliding membrane (patagium) between limbs and tail 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Length 35 to 40 cm and weight 1 to 2 kg 1
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

East Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Southeast Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Colugo, Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph, order
    These two species make up the entire family Cynocephalidae
  • Species summary
    There are just two living species of colugos: the Sunda flying lemur (Galeopterus variegatus) and the Philippine flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans).
  • Introduction
    Colugos (), flying lemurs, or cobegos (), are arboreal gliding primatomorphs that are native to Southeast Asia.
  • Movement, patagium
    Their ability to glide is possible because of a large membrane of skin that extends between their paired limbs.
  • Appearance and anatomy
    They reach lengths of 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 in) and weigh 1 to 2 kg (2.2 to 4.4 lb).
  • In Group: Euarchontoglires Orders, Phylogeny
    Molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that colugos emerged as a basal Primatomorpha clade, which, in turn, is a basal Euarchontoglires clade.
View the Source
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ183383, descriptionView the Source
Wikidata: Dermoptera
Wikidata Q183383, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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