Draco Volans are real-life flying lizards from Southeast Asia.
These mini-flying creatures, not to be confused with the Spider-Man agama, have developed the ability to glide up to 26 feet, often from one tree to another, over thousands of years.
Draco Volans’ wings are made of its ribs, not true limbs
Draco Volans use skin flaps on their elongated ribs to open and retract on demand, giving them the impression of small dragons with colorful wings.
But they don’t actually “fly” and breathe fire like the fingered-winged dragons in a science fiction movie; the rib expansion doesn’t even help the lizards’ breathing. In reality, the modified ribs help the Draco Volans float off trees and parachute to other branches to avoid predators.
Don’t get your hopes up about finding one as a pet. Draco Volans are nearly impossible to catch, as are most lizards.
