MadSci Network: Zoology |
Hi there, Good question! You reminded me to switch my bat calendar from October to November, so now I'm being watched by a Honduran White Bat. Thanks! I wanted to make sure I had the right idea before responding to your question, and was very surprised to find that very few bat information resources answer this question directly. However, some technical reports got to the anatomical/scientific explanation, and the Bat Conservation International web page "Frequently Asked Questions" provided just the answer you need. Basically, bats' knees face backwards (compared to ours), which helps them steer when flying, but would make it hard for them to perch "upright" (like birds). Here's the more complete explanation from BCI: "Why do bats hang upside down? Unlike the bodies of other animals, a bat's body is best adapted for hanging upside down. Its hind limbs have rotated 180 degrees so that its knees face backwards. This rotation aids in the bat's ability to navigate in flight and to hang by its feet. Bats actually have specialized tendons that hold their toes in place so that they are able to cling to their roosts without expending any energy. In fact, bats must flex their muscles in order to let go of the roosting surface. These adaptations are quite helpful for a flying mammal since bats only need to let go of the roost in order to drop into flight. Hanging upside down also provides bats with roosting space away from predators in safe places on the ceilings of caves, in trees, and buildings that few other animals can use because they have not evolved to hang upside down by their feet. " Here are some good bat resources on the Web: Bat Conservation International (includes many amazing bat photos) http://www.batcon.org/ The Lubee Foundation, a bat conservation center http://www.lubee.com/ Organization for Bat Conservation http://www.batconservation.org/ Ranger Rick's Bat Page http://www.nwf.org/nwf/rri ck/batbs96.html The Bat Conservation Trust http://www.bats.org.uk/default.ht m The more I learn about bats, the more they fascinate me. Enjoy exploring. Sincerely, Ruth
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Zoology.