The animal known for its ability to glide through the air using its skin flaps is the flying squirrel. Flying squirrels are a group of squirrels belonging to the family Sciuridae that have evolved to have a unique adaptation for gliding. These squirrels have a membrane of skin, called the patagium, that stretches from their wrists to their ankles. When a flying squirrel leaps from a tree, it spreads its limbs to extend the patagium, allowing it to glide through the air.
Despite the name "flying squirrel," these creatures do not truly fly like birds or bats but engage in controlled gliding. Their gliding abilities are well adapted for moving from tree to tree, searching for food, and escaping predators. Different species of flying squirrels are found in various parts of the world, and they are known for their nocturnal and arboreal lifestyle.