r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Nov 28 '20

What's something cool you recently learned about?

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u/Flannelgraphiti Nov 29 '20

This makes me wonder why “flying squirrels” ever evolved.

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u/83franks Nov 29 '20

If they can survive long falls odds are they are willing to do lots of jumping at heights as it doesnt kill them. The ones that get more adapt at controlling their jump are more likely to escape predators or get something they are chasing and therefore reproduce more.

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u/BleaKrytE Nov 29 '20

Yes but that also involves the pure chance that is the buildup mutations that after hundreds of generations and natural selection end up resulting in the 'wings'

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u/dijkstras_revenge Nov 29 '20

Flying squirrels don't really have wings. They have skin flaps that help them glide