Thepatagium (pl.:patagia) is a membranousbody part that assists an animal in obtaininglift whengliding orflying. The structure is found inextant andextinct groups offlying and gliding animals includingbats, theropod dinosaurs (includingbirds and somedromaeosaurs),pterosaurs,gliding mammals, someflying lizards, andflying frogs. The patagium that stretches between an animal's hind limbs is called theuropatagium (especially in bats) or theinterfemoral membrane.
In bats, theskin forming the surface of the wing is an extension of the skin of the abdomen that runs to the tip of each digit, uniting the forelimb with the body.
The patagium of a bat has four distinct parts:
In the flying pterosaurs, the patagium was composed of the membrane forming the surface of the wing, supported primarily between the body and the elongated fourth finger.
Thepatagium of a pterosaur had three distinct parts:[1]
Flying squirrels,sugar gliders,colugos,anomalures and other mammals also have patagia that extend between the limbs; as in bats and pterosaurs, they also possess propatagia and uropatagia. Though the forelimb is not as specialised as in true flyers, the membrane tends to be an equally complex organ, composed of various muscle groups and fibers.[3][4] Various species have styliform bones to support the membranes, either on the elbow (colugos,anomalures,greater glider,Eomys) or on the wrist (flying squirrels).
Ingliding species, such as somelizards andflying frogs, the patagium is the flatparachute-like extension of skin that catches the air, which allowsgliding flight.[citation needed]
Inbirds, the propatagium is the elastic fold of skin extending from the shoulder to thecarpal joint, making up the leading edge of the inner wing. Many authors use the term to describe the fold of skin between the body (behind the shoulder) and the elbow that houses the outer segments of thelatissimus dorsi caudalis andtriceps scapularis muscles.[5] Similarly the fleshy pad that houses the follicles of the remiges (primary and secondary feathers) caudal to the hand and the ulna is also often referred to as a patagium.[6] The interremigial ligament that connects the bases all the primary and secondary feathers as it passes from the tip of the hand to the elbow is thought to represent the caudal edge of the ancestral form of this patagium.
Thescansoriopterygid dinosaursYi andAmbopteryx had rather elaborate, superficially bat-like patagia in the forelimbs, unique among dinosaurs. The exact extent is not clear, but they were extensive and supported by a long styliform bone as in gliding mammals. Other scansoriopterygids might have had similar patagia, based on their long third fingers.[citation needed]