Cynocephalidae - colugos

There are only two species found in this family, the Malayan flying lemur and the Philippine flying lemur. They are found in rainforests in southeastern Asia.

Colugos are about the size of a house cat. They have large round eyes; small, rounded ears; short, pointed snouts; and gray to brown fur with white spots. They have a membrane of skin that runs from their front paws down their sides to their rear limbs. They use this membrane to glide from tree to tree. They are nocturnal and live in trees.

Colugos are herbivores. They eat leaves, shoots, and fruit. Females give birth to a single baby. The baby clings to its mother's stomach as she moves from tree to tree. Colugos are also called flying lemurs, but they are not related to lemurs.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Species Around the World
Location Key Africa Antarctic Region Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH
Philippine Flying Lemur - Cynocephalus volans		Malayan Flying Lemur - Galeopterus variegatus

Additional Information

Resource Key
Profile Photos Video Audio

Philippine Flying Lemur - Cynocephalus volans
The Philippine flying lemur is found in the Philippines.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Philippine Flying Lemur - Cynocephalus volans
The Philippine flying lemur spends all its time in trees and is often found near coconut and rubber plantations.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Malayan Flying Lemur - Galeopterus variegatus
The Malayan flying lemur is found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Malayan Flying Lemur - Galeopterus variegatus
The Malayan flying lemur is mostly nocturnal.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Ye