How lizards fly: A novel type of wing in animals
Fig 5
Draco dussumieri disconnecting the composite wing immediately before landing.
Photographs A and B show the same individual on two different instances, C a second individual, and D-F a third individual at three different instances. (A) Shortly before reaching the landing point, the aerofoil is orientated more vertically. The fingers are still touching the leading edge of the patagium. Note the ulnar deviation of the hands. (B) The hands have just been lifted from the patagial surface and are still strongly adducted. (C) At a remaining distance of only a few centimeters from the landing point, the forelimbs and hindlimbs are extended forward towards the tree. (D-F) Different states during the release of the patagium: (D) the fingers of the left hand have been lifted up and thus have just lost contact with the patagium; the fingers of the right hand still touch the leading edge. (E) the fingers of the left hand have just been lifted from the dorsal surface of the patagium; the right hand has already been rotated forward. (F) the left hand is rotated forward; the right forelimb is already moved forward and not visible from behind anymore.