# Colugo (*Cynocephalus variegatus*) Colugos are amazing gliding mammals that live in the forests of Southeast Asia. They have a special skin flap that helps them glide from tree to tree like superheroes! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Colugo Lemur, Flying Lemur ![Colugo](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424826/objects/6004.jpg) ## Appearance The Colugo has soft, dense fur mottled in shades of grey and brown, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. Its large, forward-facing eyes are adapted for seeing in low light. A broad, fur-covered membrane, called a patagium, stretches from its neck to its fingertips, and down to its tail, giving it a unique square-like shape when spread. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Dermoptera - **Family:** Cynocephalidae - **Genus:** Galeopterus ## Interesting facts - A baby colugo clings to its mother's belly during glides, safe within her patagium! - Colugos are so good at gliding that their feet are poor for walking on the ground! - Colugos can glide over 100 meters, further than a football field, without losing much height! - Despite their nickname 'flying lemurs', colugos are not true lemurs and cannot actually fly! ## Special abilities - **Super Glider:** Colugos can glide amazing distances using their vast skin membrane, helping them travel efficiently between trees. - **Stealth Camouflage:** Colugos have mottled fur that perfectly mimics tree bark and lichen, helping them hide from predators. - **Night Vision:** Colugos have very large eyes that gather maximum light, helping them navigate and forage in the dark forest. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 34-42 cm - **Wingspan:** 70-120 cm - **Weight:** 0.9-1.75 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 60-150 days ## Diet & Feeding Colugos are gentle plant-eaters, enjoying leaves, flowers, and fruits found in their forest home. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Changeable Hawk-Eagle (*Nisaetus cirrhatus*) — A common bird of prey - **Eaten by:** Barred Eagle-Owl (*Bubo sumatranus*) — Nocturnal hunter of mammals - **Eaten by:** [Reticulated Python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reticulated-python) (*Malayopython reticulatus*) — Large arboreal snake - **Eats:** Cluster Fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Eats leaves and fruits ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you ever see a colugo in the wild, admire them from a distance and don't try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Colugo? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Colugo? 34-42 cm ### What is Colugo's wingspan? 70-120 cm ### How much does Colugo weigh? 0.9-1.75 kg ### How long does Colugo live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Colugo move? 20 km/h ### What does Colugo eat? Colugos are gentle plant-eaters, enjoying leaves, flowers, and fruits found in their forest home. ### Where is Colugo usually found? Forests ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Colugo: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/colugo)