"These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season." Psa. 104:27.
Although called a flying lemur, the cat-sized animal we will learn about today is not really part of the lemur family, but is properly called a colugo. It lives in the forests of southeast Asia where it spends most of its life high in the trees. It is a pretty animal with brownish gray fur, or light brown. spotted with white. As the Creator has done for so many animals and birds, the colugo has been provided with good coloring for concealment in the trees.
Colugos are night workers. Resting in daylight, some curl up in holes in tree trunks, and others hang from branches or big palm leaves, gripping them firmly with sharp curved claws. They never seem to have to drink water, securing all the moisture they need either from their food or by licking rain water from leaves.
The colugo has a long tail and, like some monkeys, it can curl it tightly around a tree limb so it can use both hands while eating leaves or fruit, or keep it safe while asleep.
This is the largest of all "flying" mammals. Its long, slender, flexible underbody is covered by loose skin that stretches tight when its legs are spread apart, providing a flat, kite-like area. In this way they travel from tree to tree, gliding swiftly as much as 200 feet. Of course they cannot actually fly, but they appear to as they make frequent trips between trees. In gliding they always land lower on the tree they are going to than the point from which they take off. Since they have to be able to climb trunks and cling to branches, the Creator has given them strong legs and sharp claws.
While gliding through the air, the colugo's tail acts as a rudder as it leans its body from one side to another to keep a true course. When preparing to land, its tail lifts high, acting as a brake; at the same time it raises the front of its body so it comes in for a perfect landing.
Females have just one baby a year. A short while after birth the baby learns to cling to the soft silky fur under its mother's stomach and to hang on tightly, upside down, when she glides between trees.
These rather cute animals live in a warm climate and do not need to store food as some others do. They seem happy, rarely fighting, innocently unaware of the way their Creator, the Lord God, cares for them. But boys and girls, as well as adults, are taught in the Bible that He is the loving provider to us of every good and perfect gift. Above all, He has given the gift of the Lord Jesus as Savior to any who will believe on Him. Animals cannot give thanks, but we have no excuse for not doing so, as the Bible verse says: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:2020Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20). Don't forget to give thanks to God.