Since when can bats fly? Interesting facts about how this unique mammal evolved!

HARIANBANYUASIN.COM – a bat the only mammal that can fly, and this makes it one of the most unique creatures in the animal kingdom.

With thin membrane-shaped wings that span the size of their bodies, bats have been flying in the earth’s skies for millions of years.

But, the question is: when exactly can bats fly, and how did they evolve to have this ability?

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Wing development

It is thought that bats began to develop wings and the ability to fly around 50 to 60 million years ago, after the dinosaurs became extinct.

Scientists say that the ancestors of bats were small land mammals that had long legs and sharp claws for climbing and jumping.

However, some of these species underwent significant evolutionary changes in their body structure, particularly in the long front legs and the development of thin wing-like membranes.

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The oldest bat fossil found, named Onychonycteris finneyi, was found in North America and is estimated to be 52 million years old.

This fossil shows that Onychonycteris already had wings, but its fingers were longer, and its wings were not as efficient as modern bats in terms of movement and flight flexibility.

From these fossils, the researchers concluded that bats’ ability to fly went through a long and gradual process.

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