How do flying squirrels maximize the air-catching surface area of the patagium upon launching?
Answer
Spreading their limbs wide
When launching, the squirrel spreads its limbs wide, which stretches the patagium taut to maximize the surface area available to catch the wind.
Related Questions
What is the specialized, furry membrane enabling flying squirrels to glide called?How do flying squirrels maximize the air-catching surface area of the patagium upon launching?Which specific feature optimizes the airframe for some species, like the Southern Flying Squirrel?What is the primary measure used to quantify the aerial performance of flying squirrels?How does the glide efficiency of a flying squirrel compare to engineered human performance gear mentioned in the text?During a glide, the squirrel's velocity is the vector sum of which two forces?What maneuver is performed just before impact to ensure the squirrel lands upright safely on a tree trunk?How does a flying squirrel initiate a turn while in mid-air?Besides differential patagium adjustments, what structure assists in stabilizing the glide and making minor corrections?What ecological constraint dictates the practical speed and range of a local flying squirrel population?