From skin folds to flight: elastic and collagen fibers architecture in the wing of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus)

Flight in bats is the primary mode of locomotion as they are the only flying mammals. The morphological characteristics of the wing membrane have been suggested to play an important role in its flight ability. The present study analysed the functional morphology of the wing membrane of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus), focusing on the organisation of elastic and collagen fibres. In this study, we used two wild-caught adult flying foxes from West Java, Indonesia. The wing membrane tissue sections were stained using haematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining. The bat wing membrane comprises double-layered skin covered by a thin epidermal layer. The wing membrane is comprised of collagen fibres and well-organised elastin bundles inserted between the two skin layers. Collagen fibres strengthen the wing membrane by holding air pressure, whereas elastic fibres provide flexibility to the wings. This can describe the strength and flexibility of the wing membranes of large flying foxes during flight