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Courtesy of Institute for Creation Research 

GLIDING  REPTILES, DID YOU KNOW?

Greetings all you fine folk out there. How are you this fine day, for no matter where you are at, this is the day the Lord made! As you can see, my husband and I are adapting to our new circumstance of living after a stroke. Some things have become much clearer that’s for sure!

Squirrel glider, commons. I just had to include this cutie
since I missed him last week.

So speaking about adapting…I know most everyone has heard of gliding squirrels (especially if they read last week’s blog!), and in the land down under in Australia; the cutest little animal; the squirrel glider,(Petaurus norfolcensis) a nocturnal gliding possum found  along the east/southeast coastline of Australia. But gliding reptiles? Most of you are probably saying “I don’t want to live there!” But people do live in the same places these unusual animals reside…

“In Malaysia, the golden tree frog knows how to spread its

Courtesy of the Institute for Creation Research

arms and legs to control its descent from high in a jungle tree. Southeast of Malaysia, the Java flying frog uses webbed feet to resist air, slowing its descent even more. Indonesian jungles also host Wallace’s flying frog, Rhacophorus nigropalmatus. Huge webbing between its toes and its aerodynamically flattened body allow it to glide at about a 45-degree angle.”¹ But like the flying squirrels, the extra webbing does make it more difficult to get around once the frogs land. Thus there is a precarious balance between carrying the extra flesh needed to parachute safely to the

Wallace flying frog, commons

ground and having nimble limbs that make it easier to navigate once they land. This is something that is hard to explain under the Theory of Evolution as any transitional form would not be able to do either very well. Then such a creature would be susceptible to certain death either by fatal landings due to high velocity or by not having the speed to get away from predators on the ground. 

So what other reptiles can fly (glide)? I guess, snakes would come to mind if you have ever watched nature programs on TV. “…Certain snakes from parts of India can expertly glide through the air. Jake Socha, a flying-snake expert at Virginia Tech’s Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics,

Courtesy of Institute for Creation Research

summarized the major results from his experiments in a TEDx video. He found that when the flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi travels through the air, it writhes first to one side and then the other so that its average body position is symmetrical when gliding in a straight line. It can also control tight turns by whipping its body around in midair. Without these skills, the animal would tilt sideways and tumble down. The snake also rotates and flattens its many ribs, ‘Turning its entire body into a wing.’ Socha said, ‘This snake shape is able to generate a similar amount of lift to an engineered aerofoil. Not bad for a snake.’ ”²

Flyhng gekko, commons

There are also flying geckos (Ptychozoon kuhli) in Southeast Asia that harbor unique and elaborate skin flaps from their necks, limbs, trunk and tail. These little guys are so talented that the can also swoop at the end of their flight for a soft landing. In addition they are highly camouflaged for better protection.

And a flying lizard (Draco cornutus) that takes the prize of the farthest flighers of all these reptiles.  “It extends unique ribs that suspend skin webbing, like a retractable hang glider. It lives its whole life in Indonesian treetops, can shift its skin color from brown to green in active camouflage…”³ It’s also

Flying lizard, commons

found in Malaysia. What an amazing creature! Try to explain this one without a design.

Until next time, God bless and take care!

Willow Dressel

References:

^1,2http://www.icr.org/article/when-frogs-fly

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptychozoon

Pictures;

Squirrel Glider:  Figaro - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8268608  

Imported from en. Original description: Photography: LA Dawson Description: Flying Gecko, Ptychozoon kuhli Original licence: creative common.