I know people are going to bring up Rocky the flying squirrel, so I beat you to the punch.  I thought the same thing, so I was surprised when I ended up on flying possums.  There are flying squirrels, but there are 50 species.  These guys have only 10 varieties with 8 in Australia and 2 in New Guinea.

So, what are they?  It’s pretty simple.  These are possums, which means pouched mammals, who have partially fused digits on the second and third digit of their hind foot.  This is used along with a stretchy membrane to help them glide.  So, they’re not flying, so much as riding air currents like a paraglider.  Still, it’s more than humans can do without technology.

Gliding possums aren’t endangered, but a few species are listed as vulnerable due to habitat destruction.  Yet, their range is very big, so they are spread out.  The…