User:Ramen Scientist/Bat Flight

Welcome to Bat Flight!

Bat Flight Adaptations

Bats are the only mammals specialized for flight for a few reasons. Not only do they have specialized forelimbs and membranes. But also impressive pectoral and back muscles used for powering their wingbeats in flight.^[1] Both of these muscle groups are similar in appearance among vertebrates. However bats have a unique muscle group known as the occipito-pollicalis. A necessary muscle group for mammalian flight.^[2] These muscle groups act to power flight and utilize the plagiopatagium which is the skin overlapping the forelimb, similar to the skin on species of flying squirrels.^[3]

^ Thewissen, J. G. M.; Babcock, S. K. (1992). "The Origin of Flight in Bats". BioScience. 42 (5): 340–345. doi:10.2307/1311780. ISSN 0006-3568.
^ Tokita, Masayoshi; Abe, Takaaki; Suzuki, Kazuo (2012-12-18). "The developmental basis of bat wing muscle". Nature Communications. 3 (1): 1302. doi:10.1038/ncomms2298. ISSN 2041-1723.
^ Cao, Tianxin; Jin, J.-P. (2020). "Evolution of Flight Muscle Contractility and Energetic Efficiency". Frontiers in Physiology. 11. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.01038/full. ISSN 1664-042X.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)

A close up of the bat wing membrane. Demonstrating specifically the external epidermis.

This image is displaying the anatomical makeup of the bat wing membrane.

[1] Thewissen, J. G. M.; Babcock, S. K. (1992). "The Origin of Flight in Bats". BioScience. 42 (5): 340–345. doi:10.2307/1311780. ISSN 0006-3568.

[2] Tokita, Masayoshi; Abe, Takaaki; Suzuki, Kazuo (2012-12-18). "The developmental basis of bat wing muscle". Nature Communications. 3 (1): 1302. doi:10.1038/ncomms2298. ISSN 2041-1723.

[3] Cao, Tianxin; Jin, J.-P. (2020). "Evolution of Flight Muscle Contractility and Energetic Efficiency". Frontiers in Physiology. 11. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.01038/full. ISSN 1664-042X.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)

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