This finding challenges the previously widely accepted view that the evolution of flight in vertebrates required independent adaptations in the forelimbs and hindlimbs. The study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, shows that changes in the shape of bats’ wings are closely linked to changes in the shape of their legs; This suggests that bats’ evolutionary paths limit their ability to adapt to different ecological environments. In contrast, there is almost no correlation between the evolution of wings and legs across bird species; this may contribute to the birds’ greater success in colonizing different habitats.
The researchers plan to continue studying the evolutionary history of bird skeletons to understand how and when this independence developed.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
