The Evolution of Terrestrial Locomotion in Bats

Forelimb and hindlimb loading patterns during quadrupedal locomotion in the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) and common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus)

“…As suggested by Stafford & Thorington () and Vandoros & Dumont (), it is possible that the anatomical arrangement for carpal and metacarpal mobility observed in microchiropterans may translate into greater control over the shape of the wing and allow for more acrobatic maneuvers in flight, and/or may have evolved to allow the wing to be used as a primary tool for manipulation of food items. Alternatively, it may be the case the specialized locomotor behavior that has evolved in common vampire bats (Riskin & Hermanson, ; Riskin et al ., ) may make them a poor representative of broader trends in other microchiropterans.…”

“…These instrumented sections were mounted in the middle of the runway flush with, but separated by a small gap from, the rest of the runway. No data were collected during terrestrial locomotion for this species because they tend to drag themselves across the substrate when moving terrestrially (Lawrence, ; Riskin et al ., , ), making isolating single limb contacts difficult and inaccurate,…”

“…For most bats, terrestrial/pronograde quadrupedal locomotion is awkward and uncommon, and when grounded, bats use a series of asymmetrical movements to push themselves across the substrate (Lawrence, ; Riskin et al ., , ). The most adept terrestrial/pronograde walkers are the vampire bats (Phyllostomidae: D. rotundus , D. youngi and Diphylla ecaudata ), and the short‐tailed bats of New Zealand (Mystacinidae: Mystacina tuberculata ; Schutt & Altenbach, ; Riskin & Hermanson, ; Riskin et al ., ).…”

“…uropatagium and rotated hips and ankles; Altenbach, 1979;Norberg & Raynor, 1987;Schutt & Simmons, 2001;Vandoros & Dumont, 2004;Riskin, Bertram & Hermanson, 2005). Despite these modifications, many studies demonstrate that the hindlimb remains highly effective during non-volant locomotion (Altenbach, 1979;Norberg & Raynor, 1987;Riskin et al, , 2006Riskin, Bertram & Hermanson, 2016). In contrast, the requirements of an aerodynamic wing may have placed significant constraints on forelimb function during non-volant activities (Vandoros & Dumont, 2004).…”

Comparative hindlimb bone morphology in noctilionid fisher bats (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae), with emphasis onNoctilio leporinuspostnatal development

“…Likewise, the fact that the adults of N. leporinus (primarily feeding on fish) and N. albiventris (primarily feeding on insects, occasionally fish, Gonçalves et al, ) share the same bone elements and bone morphology (Table ), exhibit the ecological plasticity of the species of the family Noctilionidae, despite the unique shared morphology.However, those characters shared by adults of N. leporinus , N. albiventris (fisher bats) and the previously examined species D. rotundus and M. molossus (walker bats, Reyes‐Amaya et al, ; Table ) suggest the functional plasticity of these shared characters, that in N. leporinus and N. albiventris possibly act as mechanical support during fish hunting, but in D. rotundus and M. molossus possibly act as mechanical support during terrestrial locomotion: (1) a smaller zp/ap length ratios, (2) an incomplete development of the fibula, (3) the calcaneous dorsal process, (4) the distal articulation of the fibula with the tibia, talus and calcaneus, (5) the navicular ventral process, (6) the tibial ventral sesamoid, (7) the metatarsal V ventral sesamoid, (8) the cuneiform I ventral sesamoid and (9) a highly developed metatarsal V proximal process (Table ). Likewise, these shared characters also open up the possibility to convergent evolutionary processes that could facilitate the terrestrial locomotion in relatively distant species (in evolutionary terms), taking into account that noctilionid fisher bats (Noctilionidae) occasionally walks (authors personal observations) and the ability of walking has evolved independently in some lineages of bats (Hand et al, ; Riskin, Bertram, & Hermanson, ; Riskin, Parsons, Schutt, Carter, & Hermanson, ).…”