What does it mean to be a flying squirrel?

Answer 1

Flying squirrels might better be called "gliding squirrels". They do not fly by flapping their flabby skinned legs, but they can glide long distances by catching the air under their loose skin when they spread their legs on a leap from up high.

These animals have a membrane of skin which extends from their wrists to their ankles. Air fills the membrane of skin around the arms and legs in a "parachute" effect, and it causes the flying squirrel to take more of a diagonal route down. A normal squirrel would be subject to the force of gravity if it tried this, falling straight down. The flying squirrel can then land on other branches in the area.

In this regard, it is much like the gliders - gliding, possum-like marsupials - of Australia.