The colugo is one of nature’s most remarkable animals – a nocturnal, tree-dwelling mammal with an extraordinary ability to glide through the forest.
Despite its ‘flying lemur’ nickname, the colugo is neither a true flier nor a lemur. Instead, it belongs to its own unique order, Dermoptera, and is more closely related to primates.
But what exactly makes this elusive creature so special? Let’s take a closer look at the mysterious colugo.
What does a colugo look like?
At first glance, colugos resemble a strange cross between a bat, a squirrel and a lemur. Their bodies are compact, with large, forward-facing eyes that provide excellent night vision. They have soft, mottled fur, which ranges from grey to reddish-brown, helping them blend seamlessly with tree bark.
But the most striking feature of the colugo is its patagium – a vast membrane of skin that stretches from its neck to the tips of its fingers, toes and even tail. This incredible adaptation allows colugos to glide astonishing distances between trees, with some recorded flights reaching up to 150 metres.
Their limbs are long and slender, each equipped with sharp claws, perfect for clinging to tree trunks. Despite their aerial prowess, colugos are actually quite clumsy climbers, often using their claws to inch their way up tree trunks rather than leaping like squirrels.
Where do colugos live?
Colugos are found in the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. They thrive in high-canopy forests, where they drift effortlessly from tree to tree to avoid predators and search for food.
There are two living species of colugo:
- The Sunda colugo (Galeopterus variegatus), which ranges across the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
- The Philippine colugo (Cynocephalus volans), which is endemic to the southern Philippines.
Colugos rely heavily on intact forest ecosystems, making them vulnerable to deforestation and habitat loss. Because they rarely come down to the ground, large, uninterrupted forest areas are crucial for their survival.
Can colugos actually fly?
Despite their nickname, colugos cannot truly fly like bats or birds. Instead, they glide using their patagium, which acts like a built-in wingsuit. By leaping from a high branch and stretching their limbs wide, colugos can coast through the air with remarkable control, adjusting their glide path to land precisely where they intend.
Their gliding ability is second to none – colugos are considered the best gliders of all mammals. Even flying squirrels, which are well-known for their aerial manoeuvres, don’t come close to the distances a colugo can cover.
Gliding is an energy-efficient way to move through the forest, allowing colugos to travel long distances without expending too much effort. This not only helps them evade predators such as snakes and owls but also makes it easier to find food without descending to the dangerous forest floor.
What do colugos eat?
Colugos are strict herbivores, feeding mainly on leaves, buds, flowers and fruit. Their diet consists of tough, fibrous plant matter, which requires an efficient digestive system to break down.
To help process their leafy meals, colugos have unusually large stomachs with extended intestines that allow for better nutrient absorption. They even have multi-chambered stomachs, similar to cows, to aid in the breakdown of cellulose.
Since leaves don’t provide much energy, colugos have a slow metabolism and a mostly sedentary lifestyle. They spend much of their time resting motionless in the treetops, only becoming active at night when they begin their gliding foraging missions.
Are colugos social animals?
Colugos are generally solitary creatures, spending most of their time alone. However, mothers will care for their young for several months, carrying them on their belly in a manner reminiscent of a marsupial. The baby clings to its mother’s underside, using the patagium as a protective pouch-like covering.
Beyond this maternal bond, colugos have little interaction with others of their kind. They are quiet, elusive, and rely on their camouflage to avoid detection rather than engaging in social behaviour.
Are colugos endangered?
Colugos are currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, but their populations are declining due to habitat destruction. The rapid deforestation of Southeast Asia’s rainforests poses a major threat, as colugos are highly specialised for life in the treetops and cannot adapt well to fragmented habitats.
Because of their nocturnal and elusive nature, colugos remain one of the least-studied mammals in the region. Conservation efforts focused on preserving old-growth forests are essential to ensuring the continued survival of these incredible gliders.
Fun facts about colugos
- Colugos have completely webbed fingers and toes, making their patagium the most extensive of any gliding mammal.
- They can make 180-degree turns mid-glide to land on their preferred tree trunk.
- Despite their impressive gliding skills, colugos are not very agile when climbing – they move in a slow, awkward fashion, hugging the tree tightly.
- Their large eyes allow them to see well in low light, but colugos cannot move their eyes independently, so they rely on turning their head to scan their surroundings.
- The Philippine colugo has been nicknamed the ‘Kagay-an’ in local folklore, where it is sometimes believed to be a spirit of the forest.
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