Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat
Encyclopedia
The Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat, Old World Sucker-footed Bat, or simply Sucker-footed Bat (Myzopoda aurita) is a species of bat
in the family Myzopodidae. It is endemic to Madagascar
. It is threatened by habitat loss.
It is named for the presence of small suction cups on its wrists and ankles. They roost inside the rolled leaves of palm trees, using their suckers to attach themselves to the smooth surface.
Later scientists discovered that this species doesn't use suction
to attach themselves to roost sites, but instead uses a form of wet adhesion by secreting a body fluid at their pads.
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
in the family Myzopodidae. It is endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. It is threatened by habitat loss.
It is named for the presence of small suction cups on its wrists and ankles. They roost inside the rolled leaves of palm trees, using their suckers to attach themselves to the smooth surface.
Later scientists discovered that this species doesn't use suction
Suction
Suction is the flow of a fluid into a partial vacuum, or region of low pressure. The pressure gradient between this region and the ambient pressure will propel matter toward the low pressure area. Suction is popularly thought of as an attractive effect, which is incorrect since vacuums do not...
to attach themselves to roost sites, but instead uses a form of wet adhesion by secreting a body fluid at their pads.
External links
- "Monastic" Malagasy bat mystifies experts BBC Earth News 13 July 2010