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One unique feature of bats is their modified forelimbs, which support a wing membrane (patagium). The basic elements of the mammalian limb are present in bats, although the relative sizes of most bones and muscles differ from those of nonflying mammals. The most elongated parts of the limb are those of the hand (metacarpal bones) and fingers (phalanges). The primary functions of these bones in bats is to provide support for the patagium and control its movements.

Numerous blood vessels and nerves are present throughout the wing membrane. Bats also have five unique muscles present in the patagium, and use additional muscles in the chest and back to move the wings up and down.

The most obvious difference between bird wings and those of bats is that bird wings are made of feathers, not a skin membrane. Birds have an elongated arm, but do not have elongated fingers like bats. Additionally, the muscles used in both the upstroke and downstroke are found in the chest of birds, while the upstroke muscles are on the back in bats (Fenton, 1983).

soft-feathered, brownish emu is common throughout most of mainland Australia, although it avoids big cities, dense forests, and deserts.

The emu is the second-largest living bird in the world (the ostrich is the largest), with adult female emus being larger and heavier than the males.

can sprint at 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) for quite a distance. Emus are the only birds with calf muscles. Their feet have three toes and fewer bones and muscles than those of flying birds. Their strong legs also allow the bird to jump 7 feet (2.1 meters) straight up. With good eyesight and amazing agility, emus can escape most any trouble!

largest bird native to Australia

second-largest extant bird in the world by height

over most of mainland Australia, although it avoids heavily populated areas, dense forest and arid areas

largest monitor lizard or goanna native to Australia

fourth largest lizard on earth

Found west of the Great Dividing Range in the arid areas of Australia

Kookaburras (genus Dacelo) (or Cookaburras)

terrestrial kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea

Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call, which is uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter — good-natured, if rather hysterical, merriment in the case of the well-known Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae); and maniacal cackling in the case of the slightly smaller Blue-winged Kookaburra (D. leachii)

More has been published about the extinction of dinosaurs at the K-T boundary than any other group of organisms. Excluding a few controversial claims, it is agreed that all non-avian dinosaurs went extinct at the K-T boundary. The dinosaur fossil record has been interpreted to show both a decline in diversity and no decline in diversity during the last few million years of the Cretaceous, and it may be that the quality of the dinosaur fossil record is simply not good enough to permit researchers to distinguish between the choices.[54] Since there is no evidence that late Maastrichtian nonavian dinosaurs could burrow, swim or dive, they were unable to shelter themselves from the worst parts of any environmental stress that occurred at the K-T boundary. It is possible that small dinosaurs (other than birds) did survive, but they would have been deprived of food as both herbivorous dinosaurs would have found plant material scarce, and carnivores would have quickly found prey to be in short supply.[35] The growing consensus about the endothermy of dinosaurs (see dinosaur physiology) helps to understand their full extinction in contrast with their close relatives, the crocodilians. Cold-blooded crocodiles have very limited needs of food (they can survive several months without eating) while warm-blooded animals of similar size need much more food in order to sustain their faster metabolism. Thus, under the circumstancies of food chain disruption above mentioned, non-avian dinosaurs died [55] while some crocodiles survived. In this context, the survival of other endothermic animals, such as some birds and mammals, could be due, among other

Bats are one of the most prolific forms of mammals with over 900 species living in the world and making up over 20% of all mammals.

Most U.S. bats eat insects. A single bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in one hour.

Bats like to come out to eat at night around dusk. Bats flight pattern is much more erratic than birds so look for this pattern.

Myths and legends from all over the world portray bats as blood-sucking demons. Vampire bats really do exist, but only three species in Central and South America.

Vampire bats feed on the blood of large birds, cattle, horses, and pigs. However, they donÕt suck the blood of their "victims".

Using their sharp teeth, the bats make tiny cuts in the skin of a sleeping animal. The bats' saliva contains a chemical that keeps the blood from clotting. The bats then lap up the blood that oozes from the wound. Another chemical in their saliva numbs the animal's skin and keeps them from waking up.

argest member of the Kingfisher family.

in captivity: Up to 20 years

eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia

The health benefits of pet ownership are obvious for people who like animals, and most of us doat on friendly, clean, non-threatening animals. Dogs and cats are generally more affectionate and entertaining as pets than, say, fish or birds or ferrets, though many delight in those animals, too.

Besides that, a pet gives you something to care for and thus provides some structure for your life.

a forked tongue, long slender neck, flattened head, strong tail, powerful legs with 5 clawed toes and numerous sharp-curved backward-pointing teeth.

Perenties can be found living in arid regions from Western Queensland to coastal Western Australia, usually around rocky hills and outcrops.

turtle eggs, insects, birds, other reptiles (including juvenile Perenties), mammals and carrion. On some of the islands they are often seen scavenging on the beaches for carrion, turtle eggs and almost anything that moves!

The dingo is legendary as Australia's wild dog, though it also occurs in Southeast Asia. The Australian animals may be descendents of Asian dingoes that were introduced to the continent some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. These golden or reddish-colored canids may live alone (especially young males) or in packs of up to ten animals. They roam great distances and communicate with wolf-like howls. Dingo hunting is opportunistic. Animals hunt alone or in cooperative packs. They pursue small game such as rabbits, rodents, birds, and lizards. These dogs will eat fruits and plants as well. They also scavenge from humans, particularly in their Asian range.

Whenever we present a state of affairs which is known to be reinforcing at a given drive, we must suppose that conditioning takes place

The bird happens to be executing some response as the hopper appears; as a result it tends to repeat this response.

effect appears to depend upon the rate of reinforcement