Movement
The Northern Flying Squirrel's preferred form of movement is not as its misleading name suggests,
as bats are the only mammal known to mankind with the advantage of powered flight. Instead, the Northern Flying Squirrel glides gracefully from tree to tree with unrivaled precision and accuracy, sometimes reaching distances as far as 90 metres (295 ft) in a single glide. The Northern Flying Squirrel also offers some mobility on the ground, albeit limited, as most of this ability has been sacrificed for the betterment of their aerial prowess and are often remarked as clumsy and awkward on the ground.
as bats are the only mammal known to mankind with the advantage of powered flight. Instead, the Northern Flying Squirrel glides gracefully from tree to tree with unrivaled precision and accuracy, sometimes reaching distances as far as 90 metres (295 ft) in a single glide. The Northern Flying Squirrel also offers some mobility on the ground, albeit limited, as most of this ability has been sacrificed for the betterment of their aerial prowess and are often remarked as clumsy and awkward on the ground.
How does it move?
The major organs and organ systems that enable movement in the anatomy of the Northern Flying Squirrel
are the Central Nervous System (CNS), the patagium (fur-covered muscular gliding membrane) and all
aspects of the Skeletal and Muscular systems including the corresponding bones, muscles, tendons,
joints and ligaments that make movement possible for this remarkable creature.
Gliding
The CNS plays a key role in movement, as it relays messages to and from the brain and spinal cord, consequently placing the Northern Flying Squirrel in full consciousness of its movements and actions.
The patagium is another important aspect of movement for the Northern Flying Squirrel, as it alone is the reasoning for the aerial characteristics we find in these creatures today. In case your wondering, the patagium is a fur-covered muscular gliding membrane being made out of sheets of... well, muscle and can be tensed or relaxed at will, allowing the organism to change its flight pattern at will. The patagium is supported by a thin rod of cartilage at the front of the organism and by its ankles at the rear, having been fully integrated into the Northern Flying Squirrel's anatomy through millions of years of evolutionary processes. Although not required for movement, the Northern Flying Squirrel's tail also plays a part, giving it the mid-flight precision and accuracy that sets it apart from its counterparts by acting as a rudder, and a very good one at that, allowing turns of up to 90 degrees in an instant, just by re-positioning itself.
Ground
As remarked in the introduction of this page, the Northern Flying Squirrel is not limited to the skies, having some aspect of ground mobility in addition to that in the air. This is possible due to the fact that the Northern Flying Squirrel, unlike other creatures such as bats, have retained the ability to use all four of their limbs, serving as a secondary form of movement and ultimately granting more mobility to an already agile animal. But a secondary form of motion comes with a price, as it requires a multitude of extra organs and biological structures in its upkeep and consequently adding to an already complex system with an extensive amount of bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints all designed and optimized to avoid hindrance and complications whilst airborne being added. For example, the bones of the Northern Flying Squirrel are half the average weight of what they would normally be, muscles dedicated to ground maneuverability are half the density and size of their aerial counterparts for even more reduced weight, and muscles are placed in antagonistic pairs for maximum efficiency and.. you guessed it, less weight. Much like the aerial attributes of this creature, the Central Nervous System controls a manner of the ground aspects, placing the Northern Flying Squirrel in full consciousness of its actions and movement.
The major organs and organ systems that enable movement in the anatomy of the Northern Flying Squirrel
are the Central Nervous System (CNS), the patagium (fur-covered muscular gliding membrane) and all
aspects of the Skeletal and Muscular systems including the corresponding bones, muscles, tendons,
joints and ligaments that make movement possible for this remarkable creature.
Gliding
The CNS plays a key role in movement, as it relays messages to and from the brain and spinal cord, consequently placing the Northern Flying Squirrel in full consciousness of its movements and actions.
The patagium is another important aspect of movement for the Northern Flying Squirrel, as it alone is the reasoning for the aerial characteristics we find in these creatures today. In case your wondering, the patagium is a fur-covered muscular gliding membrane being made out of sheets of... well, muscle and can be tensed or relaxed at will, allowing the organism to change its flight pattern at will. The patagium is supported by a thin rod of cartilage at the front of the organism and by its ankles at the rear, having been fully integrated into the Northern Flying Squirrel's anatomy through millions of years of evolutionary processes. Although not required for movement, the Northern Flying Squirrel's tail also plays a part, giving it the mid-flight precision and accuracy that sets it apart from its counterparts by acting as a rudder, and a very good one at that, allowing turns of up to 90 degrees in an instant, just by re-positioning itself.
Ground
As remarked in the introduction of this page, the Northern Flying Squirrel is not limited to the skies, having some aspect of ground mobility in addition to that in the air. This is possible due to the fact that the Northern Flying Squirrel, unlike other creatures such as bats, have retained the ability to use all four of their limbs, serving as a secondary form of movement and ultimately granting more mobility to an already agile animal. But a secondary form of motion comes with a price, as it requires a multitude of extra organs and biological structures in its upkeep and consequently adding to an already complex system with an extensive amount of bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints all designed and optimized to avoid hindrance and complications whilst airborne being added. For example, the bones of the Northern Flying Squirrel are half the average weight of what they would normally be, muscles dedicated to ground maneuverability are half the density and size of their aerial counterparts for even more reduced weight, and muscles are placed in antagonistic pairs for maximum efficiency and.. you guessed it, less weight. Much like the aerial attributes of this creature, the Central Nervous System controls a manner of the ground aspects, placing the Northern Flying Squirrel in full consciousness of its actions and movement.
How does it work?
Put together, all the of the major organs and systems listed above co-operate and converge together, creating the phenomenon known as movement. But how does this work, and why? Let's find out. An example of all the systems and major organs working together to produce movement can be found in the everyday activities of the Northern Flying Squirrel, such as gliding from tree to tree. To perform such a feat, the Northern Flying Squirrel will firstly initiate a running start, preparing itself for takeoff and subsequently using components of the muscular and skeletal system in the process, with bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints all being utilized to support the limbs and move them as desired, whilst a subdivision of the nervous system, namely the central nervous system, co-ordinates the limbs and grants the Northern Flying Squirrel consciousness and control over its movements and actions. Once airborne, the Northern Flying Squirrel will use the patagium (as described in the paragraph above) to produce the gliding effect which characteristically defines these creatures and its long, bushy tail to direct and guide the flight, steering away from any dangers should they arise. By doing this, the Northern Flying Squirrel is again using its muscular and skeletal system, with the muscles in the patagium being tensed and loosened when desired to change the flight pattern and the skeletal system being used to support and reinforce the limbs involved in the airborne processes such as the tail. Again, the nervous system is involved with the central nervous system being utilized to control the organism's every single action with little more than thought alone. Once the Northern Flying Squirrel has completed the gliding process it will attempt to land on the nearest tree branch by raising their flattened tail and pointing all of their limbs forwards, creating a parachute effect and taking a significant amount of impact out of what would be a rough landing. To do this it again uses the skeletal, muscular and nervous systems, with the muscular and skeletal systems being used to move and support the limbs and the nervous system to control and co-ordinate them in a similar fashion to the ways described above.
Put together, all the of the major organs and systems listed above co-operate and converge together, creating the phenomenon known as movement. But how does this work, and why? Let's find out. An example of all the systems and major organs working together to produce movement can be found in the everyday activities of the Northern Flying Squirrel, such as gliding from tree to tree. To perform such a feat, the Northern Flying Squirrel will firstly initiate a running start, preparing itself for takeoff and subsequently using components of the muscular and skeletal system in the process, with bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints all being utilized to support the limbs and move them as desired, whilst a subdivision of the nervous system, namely the central nervous system, co-ordinates the limbs and grants the Northern Flying Squirrel consciousness and control over its movements and actions. Once airborne, the Northern Flying Squirrel will use the patagium (as described in the paragraph above) to produce the gliding effect which characteristically defines these creatures and its long, bushy tail to direct and guide the flight, steering away from any dangers should they arise. By doing this, the Northern Flying Squirrel is again using its muscular and skeletal system, with the muscles in the patagium being tensed and loosened when desired to change the flight pattern and the skeletal system being used to support and reinforce the limbs involved in the airborne processes such as the tail. Again, the nervous system is involved with the central nervous system being utilized to control the organism's every single action with little more than thought alone. Once the Northern Flying Squirrel has completed the gliding process it will attempt to land on the nearest tree branch by raising their flattened tail and pointing all of their limbs forwards, creating a parachute effect and taking a significant amount of impact out of what would be a rough landing. To do this it again uses the skeletal, muscular and nervous systems, with the muscular and skeletal systems being used to move and support the limbs and the nervous system to control and co-ordinate them in a similar fashion to the ways described above.