Bats Adaptation
All bats share the unique distinction of mammals that have adapted to flight. Bat wings are entirely different from those of birds or insects. Just as the name Chiroptera (“winged hands”) implies, the bones in the wings of bats are elongated fingers. Imagine that your fingers were much longer and connected by flaps of skin. The wings of bats are similar. Now imagine that that same webbing attaches from your thumb down to your ankle. The webbing between bats’ ‘fingers’ extends to the bats legs to create wings that fold against or wrap around their bodies when roosting. The legs of bats are also connected to the body with the same membrane and often their tails too. These wings, allow for incredible maneuverability in bats. Many species of bats must rely on their ability to catch small quickly moving insects so they themselves must be just as quick and agile! |