"Animals in thePhilippines"

Flying Lemurs

Order Dermoptera

This small order consists of only two living species known as flying lemurs or colugos. Flying lemurs are unusual animals. They have a lemur-like face, but are not related to the primates. Indeed, they are unique to the mammalian class, having no living relatives. They are most noted for a membrane of skin that stretches from the neck to the forepaws to the hind feet to the tip of the tail. This skin allows them to glide distances of 330 ft (100 m), giving them the appearance that they are flying.

Flying lemurs are brown or grey in colour and are covered with irregular white spots. They have a distinctive head, being both broad and flat. The feet contain long, needle-shaped claws.

Flying lemurs are herbivorous in nature, feeding on leaves. They are nocturnal, and can be found in southeast Asia and the Philippines.

There are 2 families, one of which is extinct. Today there are 2 living species.

Cynocephalidae (flying lemurs) 2 spp
Plagiomenidae (flying lemurs - extinct)

In the waters of the Philippines

there are more than 2000 different kinds of fish. Added to that figure, the country counts about 200 different kinds of reptiles and 25000 different insects. The smallest monkey and the biggest fish in the world, they both live in the Philippines! Spectacular is the colourful underwater-world. Every year many tourists come to the Philippines to one of the islands, where scuba diving brings them to this amazing underwater-world.  

The Philippines can show you what a typical tropical country can offer in species of animals. Of course, not all animals are rare or specific for the Philippines. That is for sure if you take the carabao, the cocks or the lizards. 

 

Mga Tokó, as the people in de Visayas call the small lizards, are living in houses and other buildings in every tropical country.