|
| |
|
|
|
|
||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
About the Cover
Cover: A northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus sweeps all four limbs forwards to land. These animals glide quickly between trees by stretching out their patagia, membranous skin folds spreading between the wrists and ankles. Several hypotheses exist to explain the evolution of gliding flight in flying squirrels. These have been investigated by filming northern flying squirrels leaping across a range of short distances while measuring the corresponding take-off and landing forces (see article by K. E. Paskins et al., pp. 1413-1423). Evidence is provided that the evolution of controlled flight was most likely stimulated by the need to reduce landing impact forces.
[Table of Contents]