Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

flight, animal

211

Tiny veins strengthen the

thin membrane of the

dragonfly’s wing.

Model of the pterosaur

Dimorphodon which grew to

3 ft (1 m) in length and lived

about 200 million years ago

in the early Jurassic period.

Hovering

only a few kinds of animals can hover. Staying still in midair

requires great control and delicate balance as the animal adjusts

its wingbeats to the slightest breeze. A few animals, such as some

moths, hover as they gather food. Hummingbirds also

hover expertly

to feed. As

they sip nectar

from flowers,

hummingbirds

hover, go straight

up and down, and

fly backward—just

like helicopters.

Hummingbirds beat

their wings 20 to 50

times per second;

this produces the

humming sounds.

Tail fans out to

help stability while

hummingbird hovers.

Body held

almost

vertical while

hummingbird

hovers.

Long beak

probes into

flowers to

feed on

nectar.

UpStroke

the bird’s wings swivel,

and the upward stroke pushes

air down to maintain the

lifting force.

DownStroke

the hummingbird’s wings

flap almost horizontally,

pushing the air downward.

Flying reptiles

pterosaurs, or true flying

reptiles, have been extinct

for about 70 million years.

it was thought that most

were gliders, but

scientists now

believe that many

could flap and fly

well. the largest

pterosaur measured

40 ft (12 m) from wing

tip to wing tip.

DrAgonfly

the dragonfly is a powerful four-winged

flying insect. it twists and turns with great

speed as it hunts for midges, aphids, and

other small flying insects.

wing movement

Hingelike joints attach

the wings to the thorax,

the central part of the insect’s

body. muscles in the thorax pull

on its walls from within, bending

them in and out. this movement

tilts the wings up and down.

inSect wingS

many types of insects can fly. A small insect such as a

mosquito flaps its tiny wings more than 1,000 times

per second. larger insects, such as butterflies and

dragonflies, have bigger wings with slower wingbeats.

flies, gnats, and mosquitoes have one pair of

wings; butterflies, bees, wasps, moths, and

beetles have two pairs. Beetles are unusual

because their hard,

shiny wing cases come

together and form the

insect’s back when it

is not flying. insect

wings grow out of

the exoskeleton,

the hard outer

body casing.

A long tail and rudder helped

this pterosaur balance and

maneuver during flight.

The leading edge

of each wing was

formed by an

incredibly long

finger bone. Long tail helps

with stability

and steering.

Flying squirrel’s

furry skinflaps

work like

a parachute.

Flying

squirrel

gliDing

Some mammals can glide.

they include flying squirrels

and flying lemurs (colugos).

these mammals can turn and

steer, but they do not have wings

that they can flap. other gliding

animals include several

snakes and frogs.

Short spiky teeth

were probably used

by Dimorphodon

to snatch fish as

it skimmed above

the sea.

Insect wings

grow out of

the exoskeleton,

the hard outer

body casing.

Thorax

Find out more

Animals

Bats

Birds

Dinosaurs

insects

migration, animal

prehistoric life

Dimorphodon folded its

wings when it landed,

and may have walked on

all fours, and clawed its

way up trees and rocks.

Hummingbird

in flight

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