Wild Gliders of Borneo
In the deep thick jungle of Borneo lies vast animals that yet to be identified and it kind of disheartening that these jungle of forest is rapidly been destroyed by human through logging and fire.
While this happening, its very interesting to know that theres some animals striving in their natural habitats and developed new way to move along the thick jungle forests for example like flying frog/or gliding frog, flying lemur,flying squirrel as seen through the eyes of one vivid photographer and author by the name of Tim Laman
Photo courtesy from Tim Laman
TheTruth about Wild Gliders
Why they are so many in Borneo than the rest of the world
Estimated more than 30 gliding species can be found in Borneo alone. Why is this island so rich in gliding species while other rain forests like Amazon have none and African forests habor just few gliders? One of the reason is because Borneo's forests, as well as others in Southeast Asia, are different in one important way: they are dominated by giant Dipterocarp trees, which fruit infrequently and unpredictably and crowd out other trees.These conditions appear to make food sparser in Borneo than in other rain forests, forcing the forest animals to range more widely. What better way than to glide? It allows them to go from tree to tree without making the long trip down to the ground and back up again.
To get more details and explanation, you can go to this site, where Tim Laman will show you about these amazing animals through video. Be sure you watch it carefully and don't miss them.
Creature of Borneo's Rainforest Go Airborne
"Flying Lemur""Little is known about the lives of most of the animals pictured in this story."
More than 30 different gliding species inhabit Borneo, Indonesia. Animals have a hard time finding food in a forest that is dominated by the infrequently blooming fruit found on giant dipterocarp trees making it necessary for the animals to cover a lot of area.
Chrysopelea Paradisi "a ribbon-flat tree snake"through canopy airspaceAn array of extraordinary (a ribbon-flat tree snake), entertaining (a tree frog able to make 180-degree turns in midair), camouflaged (Kuhl's flying gecko) and most times terrifying (leaping lizards) have dealt with the challenge, and they do it without even touching the ground. After all, "what better way than to glide." By shifting their body weight or adjusting their tails and limbs in order to steer a controlled flight path through the canopy their gliding techniques make for coverage of big distances in little time. All the while, their magnificent display of gliding only begins to unlock the secrets of their adaptations for survival.
Photographs and text by Tim Laman
Super Gliding Frog
become airfoils when a Wallace's flying frog soars in the night. Flying frogs are so highly maneuverable that they can even make sharp turns in midair. Gliding seems an efficient way to move about: Not only can the frogs descend rapidly to breeding sites near the forest floor, they also don't have to climb all the way to the ground to move from one tree to the next.
Flying Frog Glides down to a Pool of Murky Water
'Polypedates dennysi'
@Photo by Mark W. Moffett
Another angle of flying frog, flying over to the other side. Looks great. Its like in the movie "Matrix" :D
'@Painting of Flying Frog by Carel.P Brest'
On the Prowl"
After a night of calling for mates near a wild-pig wallow, a Wallace's flying frog heads back up to the canopy. The frogs are extremely good tree climbers. They move upward hand over hand and remind me of little primates as they scamper aloft.
Photo and Text by Tim Laman
Wallace's Flying Frog, on the tree, climbing
Wallace's Flying Frog
Do You Know that The frogs are extremely good tree climbers. They move upward hand over hand and heads back up to the canopy tree
Rhacophorus pardalis, Gliding tree frog
Name: Rhacophorus pardalis, Gliding tree frog (Günther)
Distribution: Philippines, Borneo and Sumatra
Habitat: Usually beside temporary pools in forest and in coconut plantations
Remarks: The quiet rattling call of this frog can be heard usually from individuals clustering over temporary waterbodies above which females will lay their eggs in a foam mass. This species is highly arboreal and has been found more than 7m high. Mean SVL 48.5mm (n=2 range 41-56mm), mean mass 6.5g (n=4 range 3.3-8.8g).
Flying Lizard
Draco lizards can leap from a tree trunk, loop around and land farther down the same tree facing head up. Skin between elongated ribs on each side of their bodies is deployed like a super-fast umbrella when they leap, allowing them to make hundred-foot glides between trees. These most conspicuous of borneo's gliders are actively by day, foraging for ants and termites.
....................................................
Black-bearded Flying Lizard Draco melanopogon
Status : Vulnerable
Interesting Facts: Just like the common gliding lizard, the black-beard flying lizard can glide significant distances, travelling up to 5m for every metre of height lost.
Size: 24cm
Diet: Ants, termites and small insects
Activity: Arboreal, moving up tree trunks.
Habitat: Forest habitats, sometimes in gardens and park.
Threats: Habitat destruction.
Poll Module
Flying Gecko
'Kuhls Flying Gecko'
Geckos of the genus Ptychozoon are adapted to a gliding lifestyle, having evolved large webbed feet, lateral skin flaps along the body, and a broad flattened tail. The Smooth-backed Gliding Gecko is mainly nocturnal, but can be found resting on tree trunks by day. It prefers areas of primary forest, and less disturbed secondary forest
Flying Gecko On Polaroid
Master of Camouflage, Flying Geckos
The Great Camouflage
Do you know Flying Geckos are really good in camouflage? The flaps of skin along their sides help them blend with tree bark. Often, the eyes are the only way to see them.
Wikipedia
Ptychozoon kuhli
'Kuhls Flying Gecko' (Ptychozoon kuhli) is a species of gecko which has adaptations to its skin, including flaps on either side of its body, webbed feet, and a flattened tail to allow it to glide over short distances. These geckos have a remarkable camouflage. The flaps of skin along their sides help them blend with tree bark. Often, the eyes are the only way to see them.
Category: Image - :JWsflyinggecko.JPG|thumb|left|Flying Geckos make interesting pets.|285px
Flying Geckos, like many other gecko species, have evolved intricate toe pads with microscopic hairs that can adhere to nearly any surface, including glass.
Category: Image - :Ptychozoon kuhli underside.jpg|thumb|left|The underside of Kuhls flying gecko Ptychozoon kuhli. Note the gliding adaptations: flaps of skin on the legs, feet, sides of the body, and on the sides of the head.
Another Photo of Flying Lizard
@Photo By Jayanth Sharma
,%20Sulawesi,%20Indonesia%20.jpg)
'Painting of Flying Lizard on the look out By Carel. P Brest'
Flying Lizard, Draco Cornutus
This flying lizard is remarkably shown with its unfolded 'wings'. When running up the tree trunk, the wings' are folded out of sight and its looks like an ordinary lizard which is nicely camouflaged against the background of the bark. The Lizard feeds exlusively on small black ants
Draco Maximus. The Flying Lizard, Photo Taken By Rick Gregory
Flying Squirrel
'Borneo Red Giant Flying Squirrel'
Flying Squirrel
There are 14 species of flying squirrels in Borneo alone and different species may have slightly varied diets and prefer different levels of canopy.
Flying Squirrel At Wikipedia
The flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of squirrel (family Sciuridae). There are 43 species in this tribe, the largest of which is the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus). The 2 species of the genus Glaucomys (Glaucomys sabrinus and Glaucomys volans) are native to North America, and the Siberian flying squirrel is native to parts of northern Europe (Pteromys volans).
The term "flying" is somewhat misleading, since flying squirrels are actually gliders incapable of true flight. Steering is accomplished by adjusting tautness of the patagium, largely controlled by a small cartilaginous wrist bone. The tail acts as a stabilizer in flight, much like the tail of a kite, and as an adjunct airfoil when "braking" prior to landing on a tree trunk.
Though their life expectancy is only about six years in the wild, flying squirrels often live between 10 and 15 years in captivity. This difference is due to these creatures being important prey animals. Predation mortality rates in sub-adults are very high. Predators include arboreal snakes, raccoons, nocturnal owls, martens, fishers, coyotes, and the domestic house cat. In the Pacific Northwest of North America, the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) is a well-known predator. They are also nocturnal.
They have been kept as pets since the US colonial era.
Flying Snake
'a ribbon-flat tree snake'
You can check Jake Socha's homepage on Flying Snake Click hereFlying snakes are a small group of species of tree snakes that live in South and Southeast Asia. At rest they appear unremarkable, but on the move they're able to take to the air by jumping from the tree, flattening the entire body, and gliding or parachuting to the ground or another tree.(Quoted from Jake Socha's site)
These Snakes are called flying snakes because of their ability to glide by spreading their ribs widely into a 'U' -shaped half-cylinder and undulate through the air in a 'S' -shape fashion. They can easily cross 100m, although they crash land clumsily.
These flying snake consists of only five members. Three of them can be found in Malaysia i.e. the C. ornata, C. paradisi and C. pelias
Flying Snake's Gliding
Why These Snakes Are Called Flying Snakes?
These Snakes are called flying snakes because of their ability to glide by spreading their ribs widely into a 'U' -shaped half-cylinder and undulate through the air in a 'S' - shape fashion
Flying Snake Wikipedia
Chrysopelea, or more commonly known as the flying snakes, is a genus that belongs to the family Colubridae. Flying snakes are mildly venomous, though they are considered harmless because their toxicity is not dangerous to humans. Their range of habitat is mostly concentrated in Southeast Asia, the Melanesian islands, and India.
Flying Lemur or Colugo
Scientific Name: (Cynocephalus volans)
Nothing much we know about these creatures, Flying Lemur(Colugo). It is still mysterious and strange, weird animal.Much study need to be done on these critters. Definitely its a must.
The flying lemur looks like it has a cloak. It is actually a thin elastic sheet of skin. They use it to sail through the air. It''s flight membrane is so large they can glide through the air for more than 400 feet. Gliding is a quick way to travel. The females give birth to a single baby each time they breed and carry them around until their weight makes it too hard to glide.
The animal is almost completely arboreal and is a slow, skillful climber. On the ground it is slow moving and nearly helpless. During the day it hangs by its claws in secluded branches or rests in hollow trees; it is most active at twilight and early dawn. The colugo feeds on leaves, flowers, buds, and fruit.
Flying Lemur or Colugos finding facts
Finally I found some of the answered here. What a day :)
Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in South-east Asia. There are just two extant species, each in its own genus, which make up the entire family Cynocephalidae and order Dermoptera. Though they are the most capable of all mammal gliders, they cannot actually fly. They are also known as cobegos or flying lemurs (misleadingly, since they are not lemurs and cannot fly).
Flying Lemur With Her Baby
Let the Gliders Guide You
Gliders of Australia: A Natural History (Australian Natural History Series)
Amazon Price: $30.51 (as of 07/26/2008)
National Geographic Magazine 2000 October, Wild Gliders of Borneo, Africa, Boston's North Enders
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
'Flying Squirrel Frisbee'
Super Gliders on the "Move"
My Other Lenses On Wildlife
-
RED PANDA
-
We heard so much about Giant Panda and even the mascot of WWF is Giant Panda. But do you know there is another species of panda which have not been publicized a lot and they are endangered of an extincts if we don't properly learn to preserve these b...
-
Proboscis Monkey
-
Have you ever seen or heard about monkey with a long nose? Sound awkward isn't it. Interestingly, these animal or "Proboscis Monkey" can only be found in one place and that place is in "Borneo". I must say, they are very str...
-
Marvellous World of Birds
-
Welcome to the beautiful and amazing lovely world of birds Birds are truly unique and beautiful creatures, they are also captivate and charming to watch and all around us, roosting and nesting on our building and feeding in our gardens, the...
Link To Wild/Super Gliders
Get further information
- National Geographic Magazine @ nationalgeographic.com
- Locating and observing these gliders in the wild was a challenge. I climbed 150-foot (46 meter) trees and trekked the jungle day and night. ...
- National Geographic Magazine @ nationalgeographic.com
- Get Flash | I Have It. © 2000 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.
- INTRO FLYING SNAKES FLYING LIZARDS FLYING FROGS FLYING SQUIRRELS ...
- INTRO FLYING SNAKES FLYING LIZARDS FLYING FROGS FLYING SQUIRRELS FLYING LEMURS Wild Gliders OF BORNEO Welcome to the Sights & Sounds of Borneo's rain forest ...
- WILD GLIDERS. National Geographic - Find Articles
- WILD GLIDERS. from National Geographic in Reference & Education provided by LookSmart Find Articles.
- Sugar Glider: Information from Answers.com
- When bred and kept in captivity sugar gliders behave differently to wild gliders. As gliders are very social creatures, often living in families in the wild ...
- About Sugar Gliders
- Many exotic animal importers can get wild gliders drastically cheap and sell them at pet stores for captive-raised prices. The consumers see a cute, ...
- Sugar Gliders Main Page
- Since wild gliders are gregarious animals and do not live alone, we immediately set about finding Sucrose a mate and soon located a petite, attractive, ...
- Rain Forest at Night @ nationalgeographic.com
- Wild Gliders www.nationalgeographic.org/ngm/0010/feature4/index.html ... "Wild Gliders: The Creatures of Borneo's Rain Forest Go Airborne," National ...
- Sugar Gliders: Their Life in the Wild
- The distribution, reproduction, diet, social behavior, and life span of sugar gliders in their natural habitat are described.
- (2.4) Wild-caught versus Captive-Breed
- If a glider has always had food come from a human hand, it will consequently be much tamer. Most wild-caught gliders will not tolerate handling and have ...
- AGPix.com :: Tim Laman
- Exclusive photos of orangutans in the wild and strangler fig trees from a ... "Night Shift in the Rainforest," October 2001; "Wild Gliders of Borneo," ...
- Flying snake-related publications
- Wild Gliders. By Tim Laman. National Geographic magazine, October 2000, pages 68-85. Amazing and unique photographs of gliders in Borneo. Flying Snakes. ...
- WHAT DO SUGAR GLIDERS EAT IN THE WILD? - Gliders Anonymous Forums
- and gliders eat the gum from trees in the wild. --------------------. My current status is psycho. Please bear with me and understand if I do not respond ...
- Nature Forum: Can you imagine - Nature Photographer Magazine ...
- There's an amazing shot of a flying snake by Tim Laman ("Wild Gliders of Borneo"). My first reaction to it was "Wow!!". But soon I was thinking impure ...
You Won't Believed This
Mouse Rides Frog in India Monsoon
Look at this picture. See anything interesting? What on earth this mouse doing at the back of this frog?
Actually what happened is, at that time it was an heavy flooded in india and the mouse was trapped and can't even escape from the monsoon. Thank goodness, there is someone willing to lend a hand. None other than a Frog ,come to rescue him (Mouse)
I know it has nothing to do with flying frog yet i can't helped myself to posted these picture. Funny yet we all can learn something from animals :P
T-Shirt of Gliding Frog for Sale
Wearable Art2AT T-Shirts are 100% Cotton hand-printed shirts, insuring comfort and image quality in every shirt.
FreeBear.Com
Select from over 1,200 stuffed animals and teddy bears, including Gund Sesame Street characters. We specialize in plush stuffed animals and teddy bears. Choose plush cats, dogs, monkeys, horses, pigs, frogs, cows, turtles, and more. Enter our monthly drawing for a free bear. Free greeting card with gift orders. Our service and low prices make the difference. Ever wonder why we are called Freebears.com? It is because we give away free bears. Buy $50 or more of our huggable plush stuffed animals and teddy bears at our regular, low prices and freebears.com will donate a free bear to a local children's charity or send a free Cushy Critter teddy bear to you with your order
Animals Life Book Shop
Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3)
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 07/26/2008)
Water for Elephants: A Novel
Amazon Price: $8.37 (as of 07/26/2008)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.)
Amazon Price: $8.97 (as of 07/26/2008)
Skinny Bitch
Amazon Price: $8.37 (as of 07/26/2008)
Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 07/26/2008)
Pick N' Glide
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
SuperGliding Guide Reader Feedback
|
raghuvarun123
ths photos are very nice, you have collected very good coollections.. Posted July 25, 2008 |
|
|
Gemstones-guy
very greate lens. it is an excelent idea to who about this type information. keep it up .. Posted July 24, 2008 |
|
|
Hhank
Makes it hard to fathom that we could actually be losing the amount of unique forest and tropical area due to deforestation every day. Thanks for sharing this information, the lens is great. I am finishing my lens series about used buses for sale. Posted June 30, 2008 |
|
alicesy
Excellent Lens. I like the quality insight you have provided here about The Amazing Wild Gliders. Keep up the good work. Posted June 26, 2008 |
