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Weekend


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August 20, 2004

Strange But True!

  • A weekly column of incidental information, off-the-wall observations and other random facts about the world.
    • By BILL SONES and RICH SONES, Ph.D.
    Special to the Journal

    Q. From a Michigan reader:  "I wonder if you might take up the argument about whether Flying Fish can really fly. I personally think they can. I have seen them airborne the full length of a cruise ship, about 900 feet (270 meters). That's a long way to glide!"

    A. A clue: If the name says it flies, it probably doesn't — consider the flying lizard (on winglike membranes at its sides, it too glides through the air), flying lemur (fur-covered membranes permit gliding leaps), flying frog (web-connected toes do the same) and flying squirrel (tree to tree on winglike membranes).


     
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