Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Thiagavel J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5758785 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Thiagavel Jeneni J Cechetto Clément C Santana Sharlene E SE Jakobsen Lasse L Warrant Eric J EJ Ratcliffe John M JM
Nature communications 20180108 1
Substantial evidence now supports the hypothesis that the common ancestor of bats was nocturnal and capable of both powered flight and laryngeal echolocation. This scenario entails a parallel sensory and biomechanical transition from a nonvolant, vision-reliant mammal to one capable of sonar and flight. Here we consider anatomical constraints and opportunities that led to a sonar rather than vision-based solution. We show that bats' common ancestor had eyes too small to allow for successful aeri ...[more]