Not a "Flying Mouse": The Ultimate Hardware and Software Evolution of Bat Flight
I ntroduction: The "Flying Mouse" Illusion Following up on my previous post about the physics of bird wings (the chicken tenderloin pulley system), let's look at the only mammal that has conquered the sky: the bat. In many languages, bats are often referred to as "flying mice" due to their facial design and furry bodies. However, from the perspective of modern biology and evolutionary engineering, calling a bat a mouse is a massive misunderstanding. 1. The Evolutionary Paradox: Humans are closer to mice than bats are Let's look at the genetic tree. Surprisingly, humans and mice belong to the same superorder called Euarchontoglires . Yes, genetically speaking, we humans are in the "mouse faction." So, where do bats belong? They belong to a completely different superorder called Laurasiatheria . Their true genetic relatives are not mice, but dogs, cows, horses, and even whales in the ocean. Why do bat faces look like mice? That rodent-like face is...