These 'skydiving' salamanders survive leaps from the world’s tallest trees
Summary by National Geographic
The tiny amphibians have evolved a human-like strategy for soaring from California’s old-growth redwoods, a new study says.
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Phys.org
Skydiving salamanders live in world's tallest trees
Salamanders that live their entire lives in the crowns of the world's tallest trees, California's coast redwoods, have evolved a behavior well-adapted to the dangers of falling from high places: the ability to parachute, glide and maneuver in mid-air.
Skydiving salamanders live in world's tallest trees
Researchers have documented in a vertical wind tunnel the amazing ability of one species of salamander -- which spends its entire life in the tops of redwoods -- to parachute, glide and maneuver in mid-air. Ground-dwellers, on the other hand, freak out during free-fall. The salamander's skydiving skills are likely a way to steer back to a tree it has fallen or jumped from to avoid terrestrial predators.
Skydiving salamanders live in world's tallest trees
Salamanders that live their entire lives in the crowns of the world's tallest trees, California's coast redwoods, have evolved a behavior well-adapted to the da