The bats have always fascinated and intrigued us. In addition to being the only mammals capable of actively flying, they have a rather special lifestyle. When they are not flying, the chiropts rest their heads down. They hang on the ceiling of the caves, under the bridges or the branches of the trees.
As surprising as it may be, this posture is the result of their evolution. Before being the flying creatures we know today, bats were first of all terrestrial mammals.
The ancestors of bats have evolved to allow them to fly today
“” When bats have gone from the status of terrestrial mammals to the status of flying animals, they began to hover like flying squirrels », Explains Tara Hohoff, biologist of bats and coordinator of the Illinois bat conservation program.
Indeed, the ancestors of bats climbed the trunks of the trees and dropped to hover between the branches. This allowed them to develop powerful members who have evolved in wings over time.
Nevertheless, the wings of bats are not to be confused with those of birds. Flying mammals have no hollow bone to take off from the ground like birds. So they got used to staying with their heads down to just drop when they have to take off.
The extraordinary anatomy of chiropts to sleep downstairs
But then, how do bats make such a feat that defies the laws of gravity? Their anatomy allows them to remain suspended without muscle effort. They do not spend energy in this position, which is obviously important to rest properly.
In fact, the muscles, tendons and batches of bats have adapted to this suspended lifestyle. “” When a bat finds a place to perch, she contracts the muscles attached to her greenhouses, which opens them “Explains Daniel Pavuk, zoologist and president of the department of biology at the Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Bats have a special tendon that closes the claws on the support surface when their body is suspended. “” The claw joints block and the body weight of the bat maintains the closed greenhouses Adds Daniel Pavuk.
Batters are easier to escape predators by suspending in discreet places
These nocturnal creatures therefore use gravity to stay suspended at the bottom for long periods. In addition, unlike humans, bats do not have to worry about the accumulation of blood in their heads unlike other mammals.
Their size is compact enough to allow the heart to easily pump blood throughout the body. Rest periods are the moments when they are most vulnerable. By suspending in difficult places to access in the caves or under the bridges, they protect themselves from potential predators such as owls, hawks and even snakes.
The lifestyle of bats has also favored the evolution of other features. Their skeleton has become lighter over time, which facilitates moments of flight. “” Because of this, the bones of their legs do not bear their weight well for long periods “Specifies Daniel Pavuk.
Not all bats sleep exclusively the head
Bats on the ground are also able to fly away, but it is more difficult. They do it only when necessary or whether they are in distress. The species that hang your head downstairs avoid landing on the ground.
Nevertheless, it is important to specify that all the bats of bats do not sleep exclusively the head down. For example, bats with suction cups from Central America and South America use their “suction cups” to shelter the leaves below, ” And this, from all kinds of angles “, According to the zoologist.
As Tara Hohoff recognizes, it would be interesting to conduct additional research on the evolution of bats to better understand them. Researchers could thus identify the morphological differences which allow certain species of bats to take off more easily from the soil than others.
Source: LiveSciencece
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