Content:
- Do Bats Have Feet?
- Characteristics of a Bat Feet
- Functions of the Bat Feet
- Bats Body Parts
- Bats Anatomy
- Final Thoughts
Most people wonder what exactly is a bat, to which family does it belong? This article will help you know what type of animal is a bat.
A bat is scientifically known as Chiroptera. It is the only flying mammal known worldwide. According to genetics, bats originated at the beginning Eocene era.
They are part of the four major microbat lineages. Bats are divided into two broad groups: The Yinpterochiroptera, and the megabat family. They are further divided into smaller groups called suborders.
These groups include the Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, Craseonycteridae, Megadermatidae, and Rhinopomatidae. A 2005 DNA study supports the view that Yangochiroptera contains the other raccoon families.
The two new suggested a 2013 phylogenetic study supported suborders. A bat has a lifespan averagely of 28 to 31 years. The scientific name of a bat is derived from a Greek word that means hand wing.
A bat gained this name because it has four elongated fingers and a thumb. A bat has a flexible skin membrane and a movable joint that ease its movement.
Do Bats Have Feet?
Have you ever seen a bat? What about its feet?
If you have never had an encounter with a bat, worry no more. We will provide you with a visual image of a bat. We will try and design a figure of a bat in your mind.
It is believed that Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera developed flight independently. According to the hypothesis of the flying primate, bats are related to hominoids.
Microchiroptera has anatomic features that it doesn’t share with Megachiroptera when flight adaptations are removed. Just like all mammals, bats have feet.
It has forelimbs that are modified for movement. In addition to that, a bat has slender hips and legs.
The hips of a bat are attached to the femur; this enables the bat to bend while flying. Moreover, a bat has an ankle joint that allows the bat to hang downwards. Bats use their feet to walk awkwardly when not in a flight.
They also use their feet to hang on tree branches during rest. A condition is known as roosting.
How Many Feet Do Bats Have?
Have you ever imagined the number of feet a bat has? Most people get confused about the number of feet a bat has. Just like human beings, bats have two legs and two arms.
According to research conducted in New Zealand, there are specific bats that have four limbs.
The study was conducted at the university of new south wales, led by Dr. Suzanne Hand. The researchers discovered that a bizarre bat had four limbs used for waking on the ground and flying through the air.
Characteristics of a Bat Feet
Human beings are always anxious and nervous about how the bat’s feet look like. Its unique feature of hanging upside down of trees is what makes human beings anxious.
Let us have a look at the characteristics of a bats foot in terms of:
- Size
- Shape
- Weight
The hind limbs of a bat have the same features or components as a human being. Bats have a forelimb with an extended thumb compared to the whole hind limb. In addition to that, a bat has a front foot with three soles. The first and second digits of the bat’s forelimb have claws.
The modern bats have only two claws on each digit. On the other hand, the old bat has all five of its fingers covered in claws. Bats have longer hind legs and shorter forearms; it resembles those of arboreal mammals that hang from trees.
Over time, bats have evolved relaxed Clenched-feet that allow them to perch or hang on trees and other objects such as hanging lines. A bat has a sole that looks like a pad.
The longest digit is the third digit, while the shortest is the first digit. The knees face the posterior end in a bat, thus the rotation of the leg at the hip.
Bats have five digits in afoot. All the five digits flex in the position of the sagittal plane.
Functions of the Bat Feet
A bat’s foot is specially designed for a different purpose. This include:
- flying
- catching insects
- swimming
Flying
A bat has other modified features that work together with the feet to archive movement through flight. These features include muscles, wings, bones, and membranes. The wing membrane is modified to have bones that provide support when a bat flies.
The bat also has muscles that enable the bat to fly with ease due to its lightweight. The wing membrane comprises a tiny double membrane that has blood vessels, nerves, and tendons. The muscles that control the flight of a bat are attached to the shoulder.
This feature enables the bat to move swiftly and quickly. In addition to that, the joints of a bat are fused to ease movement.
Catching Insects and Other Prey
Bats that feed on insects have feet modified for catching insects. Insectivores bats have modified wings and bones aside from feet that help them in catching insects.
The wing membrane consists of two thin layers of skin containing blood vessels, nerves, and tendons that extend from the sides of the body and include the hands, legs, and tail.
A thumb is characterized by a sharp claw that captures insects. The claws of the toe are used to firmly hold on a tree so that the bat can get a good resting position to capture insects.
Between the hind leg and tail, a membrane forms a basket-like shape that captures and holds insects when a bat is in motion.
Swimming
Do bats swim?
Human beings have developed a debate as to whether bats can swim across waters. Scientifically, it is not proven that bats can swim across water bodies.
According to the observations made by naturalists in the fields, bats swim across water bodies, but it is very stressful. They concluded that bats swim, but it is not their norm.
Bats are forced to swim to collect fruits that might have dropped and floated on the water surface. An example of a bat that swims is a flying fox that lives on the island.
A bat uses its wings and feet to swim across water. The wings are used for floating, while the feet are used for peddling.
Bats Body Parts
A bat has similar parts of the body as other human beings except for wings used for the fight. The following are the body parts of a bat.
- Wings
- Foot
- Shoulder
- Hips
- Ankle
- Shoulder
- Chest
- Wings
Bats have wings that extend from the arm down toward their digits. The wings of bats are one of the most unique and impressive characteristics of animals. All bats have fully functioning wings and the ability to fly properly.
The wings of a bat are comprised of:
- Humerus
- Radius and ulna
- Wrist
- Thumb
- Metacarpals and phalanges
- The Humerus
The humerus is the closest part to the body in the wing’s skeleton structure. It is shorter and thinner compared to the humerus of most mammalian species.
The articular surfaces and muscle attachment points of the humerus bat are very similar to most mammalian species.
- The Ulna and Radius
The radius and ulna are attached to the humerus. The radius is also slender, but it is a durable bone that helps to keep the wing in place.
Much of the lower arm’s ulna has been diminished and merged with its radius, with the olecranon process (the part that connects to the humerus) accounting for the bulk of the ulna.
- Wrist
This is the joint between the digits of a bat and the arm. A bat has a Similar wrist to that of other mammalian species. The only difference is that it is less agile.
The wrist is used to provide support during a flight.
- Thumb
The thumb of bats is located on the wing’s sharp end. It has a large claw that is used for climbing, handling food, and waging war, among other purposes. Bat thumbs exist in a wide range of sizes.
Bats with bigger and powerful thumbs spend a lot of time crawling for food or perching.
- Metacarpals and Phalanges
Metacarpals and phalanges form part of the wing. They provide support to the wings.
- The Foot
Bats have clenched feet that allow them to hang inverted. Most bat species prefer to hang inverted. Clenched feet have developed to allow them to walk more comfortably.
A bat let go off the ground to gather momentum and fly. Bats find it challenging to fly since they have smaller feet and flippers compared to the birds.
But six types of bats don’t perch on their hind legs. Their legs have vacuum pads that allow them to grip onto trees or other objects.
A bat has a femur that allows them to scooch outward and forward in flight. A femur is attached to the hips.
Bats Anatomy
Let us have a look at the modification of structures of a bat to its function.
Front limbs
A bat’s front limbs have reduced bones, thus providing the lightweight that is necessary for flight.
Shoulders and chest
These body parts are large and have strong muscles, thus providing the wing with the required energy to fly.
Legs and Hips
They are thin and hence do not support any weight.
The shape of the wing
The shape of the wing is adapted to flight by the relative lengths of the forearm and fingers.
The Fingers
The fingers are elongated to the posterior end of the forearm and upper arm.
Final Thoughts
Apart from the modification of bat feet to flight, there is also another surprising fact about a bat. Bats are commonly known for their echolocation ability. Most individuals know bats as blind mammals. Bats are not really blind.
The smaller species of bats are the ones that use echolocation. According to research bigger species of bats have good sight compared to human beings.
Scientists refer to sight as both a blessing and curse because sight in bigger bats outrides the echolocation signals.
For example, a bat might pass through a window because it sees light outside yet the echolocation sign signals the presence of a solid surface.
