Many people think that flying squirrels, flying possums and colugos can fly. Unfortunately, they cannot fly but rather they can only glide for limited distances. However, bats are the only mammal that is capable to fly.
These creatures belong to the order Chiroptera and the word Chiroptera comes from the Greek words cheir which means “hand” while pteron, [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]translates to “wing” because the structure of the open wing is very similar to an outspread human hand. However, the bones of the arm and four of the fingers are light, slender and lengthened as an adaptation for flight which is used to support, spread and manipulate the membrane. The only digit not attached to the wing is the thumb.
It remains free for clinging to various surfaces. The knees on the hind limbs are bent backward, while the feet face forward. Additionally, the bat’s wing is an extension of the skin of the abdomen that runs to the tip of each digit, uniting the forelimb with the body. It is tightly stretched layers of skin membranes connected together by connective tissue without any flesh between the layers.
This is why a bat’s wings are translucent, which means you can see through them and they usually run from the shoulder region to the ankle, or in some cases, to the toes themselves. When the wing is not extended, the membrane folds up efficiently along the countless creases.
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