A New Method of Calculating the Wing Area of Bats

Authors

B.R. Blood
Donald A. McFarlane, Claremont McKenna College; Pitzer College; Scripps CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Biology (CMC), WM Keck Science (CMC), Biology (Pitzer), WM Keck Science (Pitzer), Biology (Scripps), WM Keck Science (Scripps), WM Keck Science

Publication Date

1988

Abstract

Wing area is a parameter important to any study of chiropteran flight behaviour (Struthsaker 1961 ; Findley et al. 1972 ; Lawlor 1973), because it is a necessary component for the calculation of aspect ratio and wing loading. Bats possessing high aspect ratio wings usually display swift and steady flight, often at high altitudes. Bats that possess low aspect ratio wings usually display slower, more manouverable flight and often fly at lower altitudes (Findley 1972 ; Findley et al. 1972 ; Mortensen 1977 ; Vaughan 1970). However, despite the importance of wing area, no-one has published a simple, yet accurate, method which can be used to calculate it.

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Blood, B.R. and McFarlane D.A. (1988). "A new method of calculating the wing area of bats." Mammalia 52: 600-603.