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A256 Bats
We have had many requests for this poster, which
will be part of our popular Mammal Series, joining
Primates,
Carnivores,
Ungulates
and Marsupials.
Bats have forelimbs that form webbed wings, making them the only
mammals capable of sustained flight. By contrast, other
mammals that are said to fly, such as flying squirrels and
gliding possums, can only glide for short distances. Bats do
not flat their entire forelimbs, as birds do, but instead
flap their spread-out digits, which are very long and
covered with a thin membrane or patagium.
At the bottom of our
Pterosaurs poster, we have a section that shows and
explains the anatomical differences between birds, bats and
pterosaurs. Since is such a unique characteristic, we may
add it to the bottom of this poster, but that is not shown
on the above layout.
There are around 1,240 species of bats, but, like all mammals, they
are still classified under the Linnaeus system, rather than
the new cladistic one. They are divided into two suborders:
(1) the less specialized and largely fruit-eating megabats,
sometimes called flying foxes, and (2), the more highly
specialized and echolocating microbats.
About 70% of all bats are insectivores. Most of the others eat
fruit. A few eat other things, such as the fish-eating bat
and the three species of vampire bats that thrive on blood.
They prefer that of humans, which is the reason for their
name.
This poster will show about 50 species, divided into two sections,
one for each sub-order, which is introduced. These, in turn,
are divided into families. Each is introduced. Outstanding
illustrations show representative species.
STATUS: Research and layout
complete. Above posters shows temporary illustrations
gleaned from various sources. They will be replaced by
all-new original art. |
