LIFE SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Sugar gliders are marsupial mammals and flying squirrels are placental mammals. They are not closely related to one another.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sugar gliders are more closely related to kangaroos and koalas; whereas, squirrels are closer to flying lemurs. The similarities of the three types of gliders are due to convergent evolution–similar adaptations evolving independently in different groups.

Detailed explanation-3: -Natural selection independently adapted both lineages for similar lifestyles: leaping from treetops (hence, the gliding “wings”) and foraging at night (hence, the big eyes).

Detailed explanation-4: -Examples. One example of convergent evolution is the Australian sugar glider and the North American flying squirrel. Both look very similar with their small rodent-like body structure and thin membrane that connects their forelimbs to their hind limbs that they use to glide through the air.

Detailed explanation-5: -Sugar gliders and flying squirrels look amazingly similar. They are both furry animals of about the same size, with big eyes and a white belly. And they both glide from treetops using a thin piece of skin that is stretched between their legs. This piece of skin helps keep them stable while gliding.