Flying squirrel, 19th century illustration. Flying squirrels are a tribe of 50 species of squirrels in the family Sciuridae. They are not capable of flight in the same way as birds or bats, but they are able to glide from one tree to another with the aid of a patagium, a furry, parachute-like membrane that stretches from wrist to ankle. Their long tails provide stability in flight. Anatomically they are very similar to other squirrels with a number of adaptations to suit their lifestyle; their limb bones are longer and their hand bones, foot bones, and distal vertebrae are shorter. Flying squirrels are able to steer and exert control over their glide path with their limbs and tail. From The royal natural history Volume III edited by Richard Lydekker, published in 1893.
