Homology of the chiropteran "dactylopatagium" brevis

AMADOR, LUCILA INÉS; ABDALA, VIRGINIA; GIANNINI, NORBERTO PEDRO

MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2015 vol. 80 p. 447 - 450

1616-5047

Bats possess a series of patagial tracts that together act as an aerofoil for powered flight. Here we discuss the homology of a small portion of patagium, the section brevis, traditionally assigned as a part of the handwing (dactilopatagium). Using dissected specimens and literature references we show that the muscle occipitopollicalis, a morphological marker of the propatagium, extends into the brevis section in a variety of bats. This led us to conclude that the brevis section is in fact a part of the propatagium, which is also supported by developmental evidence.