What an excellent observation! They *are* disturbingly symmetrical -- it doesn't look like they have a big thumb analog at all. And yet, what's that bony projection that the wings are attached to at the feet? Mysterious!
I had to go look up the skeleton because I didn't want to assume that it had six toes, and I was right not to assume that -- they have five phalanges just like we do, with the "big toe" being just slightly different than the other four, like ours are -- we have three bones in each of the "regular" toes and just toe bones in the big toe. That projection in back is a spur of bone off their ankles - called the calcar. That would probably be homologous to our calcaneus, the heel bone. I'm just guessing here, though.
SO. NEAT. I love comparative zoology. So fun to think about!
Hi! I don't know, I got it from Cute Overload, whose main contribution was "SQUEEEE! Apparently if you reach into a bag full of bats, they come out ass first!"
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-30 08:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-30 08:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-30 09:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-30 09:43 pm (UTC)And by disturbing I mean, of course, CUTE!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-31 05:27 am (UTC)http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/animal-kingdom/flying-mammal/bat/skeleton-bat.jpg
I had to go look up the skeleton because I didn't want to assume that it had six toes, and I was right not to assume that -- they have five phalanges just like we do, with the "big toe" being just slightly different than the other four, like ours are -- we have three bones in each of the "regular" toes and just toe bones in the big toe. That projection in back is a spur of bone off their ankles - called the calcar. That would probably be homologous to our calcaneus, the heel bone. I'm just guessing here, though.
SO. NEAT. I love comparative zoology. So fun to think about!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-30 10:04 pm (UTC)I have died of cuteness.
Squeeee!
Date: 2009-03-30 11:18 pm (UTC)Re: Squeeee!
Date: 2009-03-30 11:20 pm (UTC)Re: Squeeee!
Date: 2009-03-30 11:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-31 01:46 pm (UTC)Somebody had to say it...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-31 06:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-31 07:12 pm (UTC)http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2009/03/i_wrecked_my_ba.html