Re: How bats got off the ground (online article)

[Roberto Takata <rmtakata@gmail.com>]

It's interesting to note that today: Birds are the most diverse land
vertebrate group. Bats are the most diverse mammal group. Flying
insects are the most diverse animal group.

Could have pterosaurs been *much* more diverse than the current known
dozens of species? (Say, more diverse than the whole dinosaur group?)

[]s,

Roberto Takata

On 4/17/06, Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au> wrote:
> Not strictly dinosaurs, but may be of interest to bird or pterosaur workers:
>
> http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/417/2
>
> Bats are shy creatures, especially during the daytime, when they hide in
> caves, trees, and even under bridges. Yet when it comes to Darwinian success,
> they are anything but low-profile: Bats make up one out of every five
> mammalian species. And they are innovative as well, being the only mammals to
> fly under their own power. A new study pins this airy achievement on a bone
> growth gene, whose boosted expression may have literally helped bats sprout
> wings and take off...