Publications by authors named "Nathalia Siqueira Verissimo Louzada"
Extensive research into bat flight mechanisms has highlighted the complex functional and evolutionary dynamics of their wing structures, yet the anatomical details of certain wing muscles remain elusive. In particular, the intramembranous plagiopatagiales proprii muscles, located within the plagiopatagium-an area of the wing lacking direct joint connections-exhibit remarkable variation across bat families. These muscles, which extend anteroposteriorly in macroscopic bundles, play a crucial role in wing stiffening, modulating membrane tension, and reducing wing curvature during flight.
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- * The study investigates the morphological variation of femurs in 45 phyllostomid species, revealing a strong connection between femur size and body mass, as well as dietary habits influencing femur shape.
- * Findings indicate that femoral structure is not only shaped by body size and evolutionary history but is also significantly affected by the functional demands of diet and food capture, challenging previous assumptions about bats' hindlimb evolution.
Better known by their remarkable forelimb morphology, bats are also unique among mammals with respect to their hindlimbs. Their legs are rotated through 180°, generally reduced in size, and in some extant taxa particular bones (e.g.
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