AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Did you know that humans, birds, and bats have the exact same types of bones in their forearm? These organisms share the same forearm bones because they all evolved from a common ancestor. Human, bird, and bat forearm bones include the humerus, ulna, radius, carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges.

Detailed explanation-2: -Each wing has a thumb and four fingers just like our hands do! Bats are placed in the mammal category Chiroptera, which means “hand wing.” Sometimes bats use their wings like we use our hands, scooping food towards their mouths.

Detailed explanation-3: -If you look at the skeletal structure of a bat’s wing, it is almost identical to that of a human hand and arm, only elongated and much, much smaller. Bats also have a thin membrane of elastic-like skin that stretches across the fingers to form the wing.

Detailed explanation-4: -A classic example of homologous structures is that of the wing of a bat and the arm of a human. Both have similar internal bone structure, and as mammals, the evolutionary origin is clearly similar.

Detailed explanation-5: -The wings of birds, hands of humans, and wings of bats are examples of homologous organs. All the structures are similar but they perform different functions. The wings of birds and bats are used for flying, and humans use their forelimbs for writing, eating, and holding objects.