UROPATAGIUM OF BATS

The bats (Order Chiroptera) are the only flying mammals and have modified for aerial life and have the wings, the patagium. The morphology of the wing, along with the style of flight, is supposed to be influenced by feeding and roosting habits and also by their migratory and hibernating behaviour. The style of flight may also be associated with the type of echolocation in some bats.

The part of the patagium between the hind limbs is the interfemoral membrane or the uropatagium. This may or may not incorporate the tail, and invariably its posterolateral border is supported by the calcar, the cartilagenous or bony spur, articulating proximally with the posterolateral surface of the calcaneum, a tarsal bone. The absolute and relative size of the uropatagium is so much diversified among bats that it is worth to review its morphology and functional significance.