AERIAL ANIMALS: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - BIOLOGY

The air animals are able to fly or move through the air, relying on different body adaptations species specific. For some species belonging to this group, this is the only way to get around. On the contrary, for others it is an option that allows them to escape from a threat or travel long distances in less time.

Flying animals include not only bats, most birds, and some insects. There are also some fish, reptiles and mammals that glide, making use of various structures. Within these are the interdigital membranes, the flaps and the patagium.

Common parakeet. Source: MSeses Common Wasp. Source: Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors from Stevenage, United Kingdom

Some species of birds begin their flight at an early age and spend much of the day flying, reaching long distances as part of migrations. In other cases, like some insects, they can only fly when they reach adulthood.

Flight mechanisms

Each group of animals has a different mechanics to move around by flying. In this way, they have their own characteristics to do it.

True or propelled flight is typical of most orders of insects, almost all birds and bats. In these animals, their body has some modifications such as the wings, the fusion of some bones and the shortening of the torso region.

In addition, the muscular and circulatory systems are strengthened and the sense of sight has been optimized.

With respect to glide, it can be elevation or gravitational. The latter could be directed, when the animal plans oriented its movement towards a goal. It could also be a passive slide, where the descent is controlled, taking into account the wind.

Lift occurs when there is a sustained slip, where there is no power. It is used by the condor and the monarch butterfly, among others.

Evolution

Insects evolved in flight around 350 million years ago. The development of wings in this group is still under discussion. Some researchers maintain that the small insects that inhabit the surface of the water used their wings to take advantage of the wind. Others maintain that these structures functioned as parachutes.

Then, 228 million years ago, pterosaurs evolved in flight, becoming the largest flyers that inhabited planet earth.

Birds have an extensive fossil record, where Archeopteryx is the extinct species best known for presenting a combination of the anatomy of reptiles and birds. The evolution of bats is more recent, around 60 million years ago.

characteristics

Types of air locomotion

With power

In the powered type of flight, the animal uses muscular force, thus generating the aerodynamic forces that allow it to perform and maintain a level and stable flight. Within this group are most birds, some insects, and bats.

This way of moving involves great energy expenditure. Because of this, the diet is based on foods with a high energy content, such as the nectar of flowers, insects and fruits.

There is a variety of movements that are made thanks to aerodynamic forces. An example is flapping. In this, the animal moves its wings, thus producing the lifting and thrust of the body. In this way, you can ascend without the help of the wind.

No power

Locomotion without power is one where the animal uses the wind or free falls to originate aerodynamic forces, which allow it to glide or glide through the air. One of the fundamental characteristics is that in this movement it is not possible to maintain the speed or altitude of the movement.

The movement begins with the launch of the animal from an elevated location. In this way, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. This is not replaced, so the glide has a limited duration and range.

Some of the movements that are performed without power are:

-Drop. It consists of the decrease in height due to the force of gravity. No body adaptation that proposes the lift of the flight takes part in this.

-Skydiving. It is the free fall of the animal. For this, it uses the membranes, which allow it to make a safe descent.

-Planning flight. It is a slow, directed horizontal movement. In this there is some maneuverability of the animal in terms of the drag force.

Structures for flight

Birds

In birds, there are body adaptations that allow it to fly. Thus, they have light bones and specialized feathers that increase the surface of the wing. Also, they have very powerful pectoral muscles and a circulatory and respiratory system that allow a high metabolism.

The wings originate from the adjustments to which the forelimbs have been subjected, through an evolutionary process.

Insects

Unlike birds, in insects the wings are appendages product of modifications of the exoskeleton. Some species may have one or two pairs, being located in the thorax.

To move the wings, the members of this class use two types of muscles: those that are attached to the wing and the indirect ones, which are formed by a dorsal and a sternal group.

Chiroptera

The bat belongs to this group of mammals. In this there is a structure that functions as a support for an epithelial membrane, called the patagium. The support is offered by the adaptations that the toes of the front legs, with the exception of the thumb, and the forelimbs have undergone.

This modified member allows the bat to sustain itself during flight, as well as to move actively and with a certain degree of maneuverability.

Gliding mammals

Some mammals and reptiles have an elastic membrane called a patagio, which is an extension of the skin on the abdomen. This extends to the end of the fingers or to the elbow, thus joining each extremity, the posterior and the anterior, with the body.

Thanks to this structure, these animals can plan to escape threatening situations or to travel long distances in a short time.

Examples

-Birds

The common parakeet

This species, native to Australia, belongs to the Psittaculidae family. Its weight could be around 35 grams, measuring, from head to tail, approximately 18 centimeters.

This species, in the wild, has a light green lower body area and rump. In contrast, the head is yellow, with black stripes in the posterior area. The throat and forehead are yellow, with blue-violet iridescent spots on the cheek. In addition, on the sides of the throat it has black specks.

In relation to the tail, it is dark blue, with some yellow spots. The wings are black, presenting a yellow border on the coverts. They have a curved beak, in a greenish-gray tone. The legs are bluish-gray, with zygodactyl toes, 2 facing forward and 2 backward. This makes it easier for him to climb the logs and to take and hold the seeds he consumes.

The breeders of the Australian parakeet, as this species is also known, have managed to get parakeets of a great diversity of colors: gray, white, violet, among others. However, the most common are greens, yellows, and blues.

The kelp gull

Fedaro

The kelp gull lives on the islands and in the coastal zone of the southern hemisphere. This bird, belonging to the Laridae family, measures a maximum of 60 centimeters long. It has a characteristic song, with calls in strident tones.

In adult stage, the wings and upper region are black. In contrast, the chest, head and tail are white. The legs and the beak are yellow, having a red spot on this structure.

The female Dominican gull, as the Larus dominicanus is also called, lays two or three eggs in a nest built in a depression in the ground. They are omnivorous animals, being able to feed on small prey and even garbage remains.

The common magpie (

This bird is one of the most common in Europe, in regions with a latitude no greater than 1500 meters. The Pica pica belongs to the Corvidae family and lives in Eurasia.

In this animal its black and white iridescent coloration stands out. It has a long tail of a metallic green or blue hue, with a length of approximately 45 centimeters.

In relation to its beak, it is strong and straight, thus allowing it to have access to almost any type of food. Their diet is based on insects, cereals, carrion, chicks, and eggs.

The sulfur cockatoo (

Citron-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata); from: Orangehaubenkakadu Source / Quelle: selbst Aufgenommen Oktober 2004 in Frechen. Photograph / Fotograf: Udo Berg Heggy

This psittaciform bird could reach a length of 32 to 35 centimeters, of which eleven centimeters correspond to the tail. The weight is around 3.5 kilograms.

The size in both sexes shows very little difference. The male can do it thanks to the color of the eyes. This is because they have a black iris, while that of the female is reddish brown or brown.

The coloration of the plumage is white. A yellow or orange crest stands out on the head. This is erect, with the feathers curved forward. Likewise, the cheeks and the ventral area of the tail are also yellow. In relation to the beak, it is dark gray, the upper jaw being more voluminous than the lower one.

Its natural habitat is the fields and open forests of Southeast Asia, especially the islands of Indonesia. The diet is mainly based on fruits and seeds.

The goldfinch

Source: © Francis C. Franklin / CC-BY-SA-3.0

The goldfinch is a bird that lives in Europe and part of the Asian continent. In addition, it is also distributed in North Africa. It is a granivorous species, feeding on wheat, sunflower and thistle seeds. Likewise, the chicks eat some varieties of insects.

This small bird measures about 12 centimeters. It is known as "bunting", because its head has three colors: red, black and white. Also, it has a yellow stripe down the middle of its black wing.

It usually lives in open regions, such as riverside groves. In these, wooded areas are essential, which allow them to build their nests.

The Tenerife blue finch (

Source: Juris Seņņikovs

The blue finch is a species native to the island of Tenerife, being the animal symbol of this region. It is part of the Fringillidae family, which lives especially in the Canary Island pine forests.

The body texture of the blue finch is robust, even if it is small. Its weight is approximately 32 grams, with a length of up to 18 centimeters.

In relation to plumage, the male is blue, with a more intense shade on the wings. In these there are stripes of a bluish tone, instead of the white ones that are present in the Frangilla polatzeki. The belly and undercoat feathers of the tail are whitish. In contrast, the female is grayish brown in color.

The beak is strong and grayish. The forehead of the Tenerife blue finch tends to darken as it ages. When startled, they may display a small crest.

The milky owl

Source: frederic.salein

This species of African owl can measure up to 71 centimeters, weighing around 4 kilograms. The color of its plumage is dark brown in the dorsal area and pale gray in the ventral area.

It has on its face two white discs with a black outline, which are found around each eye. In addition, the pink eyelids and a grouping of feathers near the ears stand out, which form thick and long tufts.

Their diet is based on medium or small mammals, such as the hare and rats. Also, hunt other birds and eat carrion. It should be noted that it is one of the few predatory species of the porcupine.

The white heron

Source: Calibas

The white heron is one of the species with the greatest distribution worldwide, since it inhabits almost all continents, except Antarctica.

It is a bird, with white plumage, it can measure up to a meter in height and weigh between 700 and 1500 grams. In the reproductive stage the fine and long feathers of the back tend to stand on end.

The flight of the Ardea alba is slow and it is carried out with the neck retracted. On the other hand, when walking he does so with his neck stretched out. When threatened, it squawks with a shrill sound.

The Siberian crane (

Source: BS Thurner Hof

This species, which belongs to the Gruidae family, is one of the long-distance migratory birds. Generally, their height is around 140 centimeters, with a weight that ranges between 5 and 9 kilograms.

However, the male could measure more than 152 centimeters in height and 10 kilograms in weight. The adult Siberian crane is white, with the exception of a dark red mask that runs from the beak to the back of the eyes. In the young, this plumage is tan in color.

The common spatula (

Source: Andreas Trepte

This bird, which belongs to the Threskiornithidae family, is distributed in Africa and Eurasia. It is a wading species that is between 80 and 93 centimeters long, with a wing span of up to 135 centimeters.

The plumage is completely white, however, in the young, the wing tips are black. As for its beak, it is long, with a flattened tip. In the adult it is black, with a yellow spot. In contrast, the young bird has a grayish beak and the chick is pinkish orange.

-Insects

The common wasp (

This species is part of the Vespidae family and inhabits much of the Eurasian region. The length of its body is around 12 and 17 millimeters, although the queen can reach 20 millimeters.

One of the characteristics of its body is that the upper part is black, with yellow spots and the lower part has horizontal stripes, where black and yellow colors alternate. In relation to the stinger, it is only present in the female.

The tiger mosquito

It is a flying insect with a body length of approximately 5 to 10 millimeters. It is colored in a reddish black tone, with white stripes all over the body. An aspect of the species is the longitudinal white band, located on the back and on the head.

It has two long wings and three pairs of black legs, with white spots. The female has an elongated and thin trunk, which it uses to extract blood from birds and mammals. For its part, the male lacks this organ, so it feeds on nectar.

The big yellow ant (

These ants are common throughout much of North America. They are distinguished by the yellow-orange color of their body, by the small eyes and by having wings.

The workers of this species measure between 3 and 4 millimeters and form large colonies, under rocks or logs found in humid forests, fields and grasslands.

Their diet is based on sweet foods and in the case of being crushed, they give off a strong and unpleasant smell.

The smoked cockroach

Source: Toby Hudson

This cockroach is 25 to 38 millimeters long. The coloration may vary depending on the stage in which it is. The nymphs are black, then they acquire a brownish hue and in adulthood, they have a glossy brown-black body.

This species has wings. These are dimensioned for its weight and size, allowing it to fly long distances with great ease.

The monarch butterfly (

Monarch Butterfly visiting a flower (Source: pixabay.com/)

This butterfly has two pairs of membranous wings, which are covered in colored scales. The female's wings are darker, with thick, marked black lines. In the male, the color is lighter and the lines are thin. These structures are used for courtship and thermoregulation.

This species has a long-distance migration, traveling from southern California and Mexico to Canada.

-Mammals

The giant glider (

This gliding marsupial is native to Australia. The length of the body varies between 39 and 43 centimeters, being the males smaller than the females.

The body is covered with dense fur. In relation to the tail, it is long, with a length of up to 53 centimeters. This, when the animal glides, functions as a rudder.

On both sides of the body it has membranes that run between the ankle and the elbow. This gives the giant glider the ability to glide in a controlled manner. Also, you could use these membranes to decrease heat loss, because it increases the insulation layer on the dermal surface.

The northern flying squirrel

Flying squirrel Bob Cherry, via Wikimedia Commons

It is a nocturnal rodent that lives in North America. It has thick, cinnamon-brown skin. The sides and the ventral region are gray. Regarding its size, it measures around 25 to 37 centimeters and its weight is 2.30 kilograms.

The northern flying squirrel has an elastic and resistant membrane, originating from an extension of the abdominal skin. This covers up to the fingertips of each leg. When you need to plan, you can launch yourself from the tree. Then it extends the legs, causing the membranes to stretch.

The Philippine flying lemur (

jenesuisquncon, via Wikimedia Commons

This mammal, also called colugo, is native to the Philippines. His body can measure from 77 to 95 centimeters.

It has a membrane known as patagio, which connects the extremities on each side and the tail. In addition to this structure, your fingers are united thanks to an interdigital membrane. In this way, the glide surface is increased.

When the Philippine Flying Lemur darts off a branch, it spreads its legs. Thus, the membrane spreads, acting like a parachute.

The fruit bat (

Source: JMGarg

This bat has a long snout. In addition, it has very sharp teeth, with which it can penetrate the fruits, and then introduce the long tongue and be able to feed.

When he's not eating, he curls his tongue up and hides it around his rib cage, rather than keeping it in his mouth.

In terms of coloration, the upper part is often bright orange, while the lower part is lighter. The coat is silky and fine.

In relation to the wings, the fruit bat uses them not only to fly. Also, when he is rested, he wraps himself in them to conserve body heat.

The red giant flying squirrel (

Source: Daderot

The giant red flying squirrel is native to Asia. The coat is dark red, with black tips. It can grow up to 42 centimeters.

It has a long tail, which offers stability as it glides through the trees. It has a skin membrane, which joins the extremities on each side. This is used for planning. In this way, you can travel up to a distance of 75 meters.

References

Wikipedia (2019). Flying and gliding animals. Recovered from en.wikipedia.org.
Encyclopedia Britannica (2019). Flight, animal locomotion. Recovered from britannica.com
Robbie Hart (2019). Flight. Biology reference. Recovered from biologyreference.com
Nagel, J. (2003) Petauroides Volans. Animal Diversity Web. Recovered from animaldiversity.org
Encyclopedia britannica (2019). Water strider, insect. Recovered from britannica.com.
Dana Campbell (2019). Acanthomyops claviger. Recovered from eol.org.

AERIAL ANIMALS: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - BIOLOGY - 2025