Page 45 - World of Animals - Issue #28 Magazine
P. 45

Flying without wings












































































                                                                           The flying dragon is not

                                                                           just a mythical monster

                                                                           The Draco lizard needs to avoid the forest

                                                                           floors of its Southeast Asia habitat, where
                                                                           predators lie in wait for tiny reptile snacks.
                                                                           Instead, the Draco has evolved to take to
                                                                           the air, using a set of extended ribs covered
                                                                           in a generous layer of skin. They can unfold            © Alamy; Corbis; FLPA; Nature PL
                                                                           these appendages to form ‘wings’ and glide
                                                                           up to nine metres (29.5 feet) through the air,
                                                                           steering themselves with their long tails.

                                                                                                                               45
   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50