Britannica AI Icon

Philippine flying lemur

mammal
Also known as: Cynocephalus volans

Quick Summary

The Philippine flying lemur, scientifically known as Cynocephalus volans, is a gliding mammal native to the Philippines. Despite its name, it is not a true lemur but is more closely related to primates. These nocturnal animals are arboreal, meaning they live in trees, and possess a broad fold of skin stretching between their limbs, enabling them to glide up to 70 meters.1

Key characteristics include:
* Appearance: Resembles a large flying squirrel with webbed feet and claws.1
* Diet: Strictly vegetarian.1
* Teeth: Unique dentition with lower incisors forming a comblike structure.1
* Conservation Status: Listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN, though deforestation poses a threat.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. flying lemur
  2. flying lemur

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.