Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
9 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird): Flying Ray
These rays can grow as large as 17 feet across and can jump 6 feet up into the air. Like the majority of our list, flying rays are incapable of sustained flight, but they can cover an impressive distance and return to the water with a resounding slap. It is unknown precisely why these rays jump, but researchers suspect it may have something to do with attracting a mate.
8 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Snake
Flying snakes are one of any of five species from the genus Chrysopelea. These snakes are residents of Western India and the islands of Indonesia, and they can grow up to 4 feet long. Although they glide like many of the other animals on our list, these snakes are actually more nimble fliers than flying squirrels and colugos.
Primarily living in the treetops, flying snakes are thought to jump from branches to escape predators or in search of prey. Once airborne, they flatten their body into a downward-facing, concave shape that allows them to catch air and remain aloft longer.
7 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Colugo
Colugos are more commonly referred to as flying lemurs, but their name is a misnomer as they are not actually related to lemurs at all. The closest genetic relatives of the colugo are primates like the great apes. Only two species remain of this mammal that diverged from apes approximately 80 million years ago. Cynocephalus volans of the Philippines and Cynocephalus variegatus of Myanmar and Malaysia share some traits more in common with the flying foxes we spoke about earlier than other mammals.
6 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Squid
Flying squid is similar to the flying fish we mentioned earlier in our list except that they are even more surprising. A fish flying by your boat is one thing, but who expects a squid to jump out of the water and fly right by? There are several species of flying squid, but the Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) has the most striking appearance.
5 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Wallace’s Flying Frog
Wallace’s flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus) is the largest and best-known specimen of several species of flying frogs. Native to the tropical forests of Malaysia and Borneo, Wallace’s flying frog spends the vast majority of its time up in the trees and descends only to lays eggs or mate. They use the webbing between their legs to glide for distances of up to 50 feet after jumping from branches when threatened or hunting insects.
4 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Squirrel
Flying squirrels belong to the tribe Pteromyini which encompasses over 50 different species. They are another mammal that does not have true sustained flight but can glide for incredible distances. Layers of loose skin and muscle between their legs allow some species to glide for distances up to 1,500 feet. These squirrels are nocturnal and will jump from treetops and cliffs to begin their flight.
3 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Fish
Exocoetidae is a family that contains over 40 different species of flying fish. These fish have specialized pectoral fins that can be extended and flattened to allow them to jump out of the water and glide at speeds of up to 37 mph. Flying fish swim powerfully up to the surface and then use their fins to glide for over 600 feet even reaching heights of up to 4 feet.
2 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Fox
Next up are any of the 65 species of fruit bats known as flying foxes who are all members of the genus Pteropus. While these are technically also bats, they have so many differences that they warrant their own discussion. Also called old world fruit bats, flying foxes inhabit tropical islands in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia, and they are also found in mainland Asia. They navigate by sight rather than echolocation like other bats and primarily eat fruit.
1 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Bat
Bats are of the order Chiroptera, and they are the only flying mammal. Ranging in size from the tiny bumblebee bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai) who weighs only 0.07 ounces up to the golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) who can weigh 3 pounds, these animals eat a wide variety of things like insects, fruit, nectar, and animal blood.
Bats are found throughout the world with the vast majority of them being nocturnal. Their thin, membranous wings are a distinct method of propulsion, and they can all be easily identified by their unique manner of flight. Insectivorous bats can be found roosting in caves in groups of up to several thousand members while other bats live solitary lives. Some people even build bat houses on their property to encourage bats to take up residence and rid them of other flying pests.
#birds #animals #Animalsthatfly #animalsthatcanfly
9 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird): Flying Ray
These rays can grow as large as 17 feet across and can jump 6 feet up into the air. Like the majority of our list, flying rays are incapable of sustained flight, but they can cover an impressive distance and return to the water with a resounding slap. It is unknown precisely why these rays jump, but researchers suspect it may have something to do with attracting a mate.
8 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Snake
Flying snakes are one of any of five species from the genus Chrysopelea. These snakes are residents of Western India and the islands of Indonesia, and they can grow up to 4 feet long. Although they glide like many of the other animals on our list, these snakes are actually more nimble fliers than flying squirrels and colugos.
Primarily living in the treetops, flying snakes are thought to jump from branches to escape predators or in search of prey. Once airborne, they flatten their body into a downward-facing, concave shape that allows them to catch air and remain aloft longer.
7 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Colugo
Colugos are more commonly referred to as flying lemurs, but their name is a misnomer as they are not actually related to lemurs at all. The closest genetic relatives of the colugo are primates like the great apes. Only two species remain of this mammal that diverged from apes approximately 80 million years ago. Cynocephalus volans of the Philippines and Cynocephalus variegatus of Myanmar and Malaysia share some traits more in common with the flying foxes we spoke about earlier than other mammals.
6 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Squid
Flying squid is similar to the flying fish we mentioned earlier in our list except that they are even more surprising. A fish flying by your boat is one thing, but who expects a squid to jump out of the water and fly right by? There are several species of flying squid, but the Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) has the most striking appearance.
5 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Wallace’s Flying Frog
Wallace’s flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus) is the largest and best-known specimen of several species of flying frogs. Native to the tropical forests of Malaysia and Borneo, Wallace’s flying frog spends the vast majority of its time up in the trees and descends only to lays eggs or mate. They use the webbing between their legs to glide for distances of up to 50 feet after jumping from branches when threatened or hunting insects.
4 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Squirrel
Flying squirrels belong to the tribe Pteromyini which encompasses over 50 different species. They are another mammal that does not have true sustained flight but can glide for incredible distances. Layers of loose skin and muscle between their legs allow some species to glide for distances up to 1,500 feet. These squirrels are nocturnal and will jump from treetops and cliffs to begin their flight.
3 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Fish
Exocoetidae is a family that contains over 40 different species of flying fish. These fish have specialized pectoral fins that can be extended and flattened to allow them to jump out of the water and glide at speeds of up to 37 mph. Flying fish swim powerfully up to the surface and then use their fins to glide for over 600 feet even reaching heights of up to 4 feet.
2 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Flying Fox
Next up are any of the 65 species of fruit bats known as flying foxes who are all members of the genus Pteropus. While these are technically also bats, they have so many differences that they warrant their own discussion. Also called old world fruit bats, flying foxes inhabit tropical islands in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia, and they are also found in mainland Asia. They navigate by sight rather than echolocation like other bats and primarily eat fruit.
1 Animal That Flies (That Isn’t a Bird!): Bat
Bats are of the order Chiroptera, and they are the only flying mammal. Ranging in size from the tiny bumblebee bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai) who weighs only 0.07 ounces up to the golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) who can weigh 3 pounds, these animals eat a wide variety of things like insects, fruit, nectar, and animal blood.
Bats are found throughout the world with the vast majority of them being nocturnal. Their thin, membranous wings are a distinct method of propulsion, and they can all be easily identified by their unique manner of flight. Insectivorous bats can be found roosting in caves in groups of up to several thousand members while other bats live solitary lives. Some people even build bat houses on their property to encourage bats to take up residence and rid them of other flying pests.
#birds #animals #Animalsthatfly #animalsthatcanfly
