​From flying snakes to soaring squirrels: 7 strange animals that soar in the sky​

When we think of animals that can fly, we usually imagine birds or bats. However, nature has created some surprising creatures that also defy gravity in surprising ways. These animals glide or fly across vast distances using their adapted bodies. Flying squirrels and snakes glide between trees, and creatures like these bring forth the marvels of the animal kingdom.

While some of these animals are capable of flying, others have evolved unique methods of gliding and soaring to live in their environment, escape predators, or search for food. These animals don’t just rely on wings, they use a combination of skin flaps, specialised body structures, and even the wind to help them soar across various high-rise structures. Here are seven of these sky-soaring animals.

Flying snakes are among the most exceptional gliders in nature. Found in Southeast Asia, these snakes don’t have wings but instead glide by flattening their bodies and undulating in the air. By expanding their ribs and creating a broad, concave shape, they can catch the direction of the wind and travel through the air. They glide from tree to tree in search of food or to escape predators.

Flying fish, found in tropical and subtropical oceans, have large, wing-like pectoral fins that allow them to leap from the water and glide above the surface. This helps them avoid predators such as larger fish and seabirds. They can glide for up to 200 meters before landing back in the water. Flying fish use their tail fins to gain the speed needed for takeoff, then spread their pectoral fins to catch the air and soar gracefully across the water.

Flying squirrels have a special membrane called a patagium, which stretches between their limbs and tail, allowing them to glide from tree to tree with impressive agility. These nocturnal creatures can glide up to 300 feet, helping them avoid predators and search for food. Although they don’t have wings, their gliding tactics are well-developed, allowing them to move effortlessly through forests.

In the lush rainforests of Central and South America, gliding ants have developed a fascinating ability to leap from one tree branch to another. When they fall, they don’t just drop, they actually control their descent with keen perfection using their legs and body. This ability allows them to glide, directing them through the air and landing safely where they want to. This skill is crucial for their survival, as it helps them move between trees in search of food and avoid predators in the dense, vertical area of the rainforest canopy.

Sugar gliders are native to Australia and New Guinea. These small marsupials glide through the air with a membrane between their front and back limbs. This allows them to glide for huge distances, sometimes over 100 meters. These creatures have adapted to life in the treetops, using their ability to soar to move between trees, avoid predators, and find food. Their name comes from their love of sweet foods, especially nectar, and they are often seen gliding between plants that bear flowers.