How do flying squirrels and anomalures glide between trees?

Both flying squirrels and anomalures are specialized mammals that utilize gravitational gliding to navigate between trees. To initiate a glide, these animals leap from high positions and extend their limbs to stretch fur-covered skin membranes, known as patagia, which connect their forelimbs and hind limbs.1234

By spreading their limbs, they transform their bodies into a gliding platform. They maintain control during flight by manipulating these membranes and their tails. While both groups use similar mechanics, their structural support differs:12
* Flying squirrels use a cartilaginous rod that extends from the wrist to support the front of the membrane.2
* Anomalures utilize a cartilaginous strut attached to the elbow joint to support the front part of their side membranes.1

As they approach their destination, they typically pull upward to slow their descent, allowing them to land deftly on all four feet. Despite their shared ability to glide, these groups are not closely related; flying squirrels belong to the family Sciuridae, while anomalures are classified in the family Anomaluridae.21