The Colugo Looks Like a Cross Between a Bat and a Monkey, But Is Neither

Colugos look something like a cross between a bug-eyed pug, a flying fox, and a squirrel. But appearances can be deceiving. These mammals that glide the forests of Southeast Asia occupy a distinct branch of evolution, distantly related to primates.

Also called flying lemurs – though this is a bit of a misnomer as they can’t fly and aren’t lemurs – these quirky-looking creatures live by night in the tropical forests of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore.

Strictly speaking, colugos aren’t exactly monkeys and are not bats, despite the look of their skin and the fact that they are nocturnal. Their webbed toes also have a flying-fox look to them.