V. acrobates, the bat on two fingers and without echolocation. It took the place of the frigate and other coastal birds that populated the sky in the time of men.
Systematics: Mammal bat (bat echolocation group) family neochiropteridae which includes new bat wing membrane characterized by underpinned by a number of pins less than fives.
Etymology: Latin "Velox", fast, and "pterus" the membrane, by extension the wing.
Cousin of the 21st century: Tadarida brasiliensis, Brazilian free-tailed bat.
Height: 1-2 meters wide.
Extremely agile in flight, V. acrobatus has a good niche in the mangroves. It feeds on small fish, cephalopods - that it seized during brief plongeons - or other vertebrate animals picked in flight (like baby Propellonectes).
Area of distribution: infinite Mangrove, on the edge of the sea Russell (fictional future sea)
Morphology: Unlike our bats, with five fingers on forelegs, species of the genus Velocipterus are devoid of major, annular and auricular, simplifying the ailaire membrane. This is used for various types of flight (glide, dive and flapping flight) depending on the species. The wings are very long relative to the body. Supported by two fingers, they evoke a bit the wings of pterosaurs of the Mesozoic era. Thumb supports a small membrane at the front (the propatagium) makes a rudder. Maneuverability is also ensured by the membrane of the queu (the tail membrane). At Velocipterus acrobatus. body and wings feature a lightweight brown speckled, effective camouflage in the woods. Red eyes are fitted with polarizing filters derived from retina integrated real sunglasses that limit the reverberation and are very useful for fishing.
The endless mangrove. The sun's rays illuminate this complex world between land and sea. The aerial roots of mangroves giants form a dense forest and plant cathedral which combines many species unknown to earthlings in the 21st century. In the foreground, a few bat future (V. acrobatus and V. azuri) are in search of food.
Ecology and Reproduction: Velocipterus acrobatus lives in symbiosis with the giant mangroves of the future: plant supplies room and bat the soil by its droppings. During the mating season, male indulges in impressive acrobatic flights between the aerial roots of mangroves, often risking his life. This "show" some acrobatic and attract scavengers such as placid Necropteryx.
Other Neochiropteridae:[]
The size spectrum of the future of bats is vast. It reflects the evolutive these convergences neochiropteras could have with existing birds. From bottom to top: Gigapterus tropospherus, Velocipterus boisei, V. acrobatus, V. azuri, V. godlewskii and V. chlorophyllus.
Since almost all birds have become strict ground-dwellers, the future bats of the clade Neochiroptera (the Gigapterus and its cousins like Velocipterus), quickly leave the shadows and the night become day and take the Ecological Niche leave vacant by birds and so know a new evolutionary radiation.
Velocipterus boisei and Velocipterus godlewskii make crows, vultures, and other opportunistic birds. Red eyes V. boisei feature a tapetum lucidum, reflective layer at the fundus, which allows the animal to hunt insects in the woods, in low light. Another unique feature in this species, it has clawed inches, useful to cling to the trunks or on the flanks of a large animal. Velocipterus godlewskii is a small insectivorous which locates its prey with its big nose full of olfactory sensor.
Velocipterus azuri and Velocipterus chlorophyllus are bats of the future in place of seed-eating birds, pollinators and nectar eaters.
* Head of V. boisei (to top) and V. godlewskii (to bottom)
Velocipterus boisei
Velocipterus godlewskii
Velocipterus azuri
Velocipterus chlorophyllus