Hind limb of a pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A bat's limbs are not strong enough to suppor

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Hind limb of a pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A bat's limbs are not strong enough to support its weight for very long when standing or walking. However, the curved toes and claws are adapted to allow the bat to grip tightly to objects, meaning it can hang upside down even when asleep. Bats are the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. About 70 per cent of bats are insectivorous, and many are nocturnal.

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Size: 3600px × 3221px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, bat, biological, biology, chiroptera, claw, claws, coloured, false-coloured, fauna, foot, hair, hairy, hind, hindlimb, hook, hooks, limb, mammal, nature, pipistrelle, pipistrellus, sem, sole, toe, toes, wildlife, zoological, zoology