Question

Explain the structure of the wings of a bat.

Answer 1

Bat wings:

1. Bat wings are much more similar to the human forearms; they are much more flexible.
2. Two very thin layers of skin that have been stretched across the bat's arm and fingers make up its wings.
3. Bats have four fingers and a thumb.
4. The bat has long fingers in relation to its body.
5. A thin membrane of skin called the patagium extends between the hand and the body; it also extends between the finger bones.
6. Bats can move their wings like a hand while swimming through the air.
7. The thumb extends out from the wings and forms a claw-like structure that helps them climb trees and other structures.
8. The order of bats is Chiroptera, which is a Greek word for ‘hand wings’.
9. In many habitats around the world, bats are significant.
10. Several bat species, including all British species, help control insects by eating them, whereas other tropical plants rely entirely or partially on particular bat species to pollinate their blossoms or disperse their seeds.
11. Some bats are considered "indicator species," as changes in their populations may signal changes in several facets of biodiversity.