Russell A P, Dijkstra L D, Powell G L
Vertebrate Morphology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
J Morphol. 2001 Mar;247(3):252-63. doi: 10.1002/1097-4687(200103)247:3<252::AID-JMOR1015>3.0.CO;2-Z.
Ptychozoon kuhli is known for its parachuting/gliding capabilities. In this contribution, we document the allometric scaling properties of its patagium, accessory flaps and folds, and its total body surface area and compare them to similar attributes of the agamine lizard Draco volans. Ptychozoon kuhli has passive patagia that lack skeletal support and muscular control. Patagial area in P. kuhli is smaller than that in D. volans for individuals of identical snout-vent length, but the accessory folds and flaps compensate for this shortfall and overall P. kuhli has equivalent total body surface area to D. volans for equally sized individuals. The structure of the patagium of Ptychozoon kuhli was investigated in terms of its scalation patterns and structural integrity, its relationship to the body wall and its mechanism of erection, and the distribution of mechanoreceptive sensilla across its surface. Scalation patterns and the internal architecture of the patagium indicate how its shape and form are maintained as it erects and becomes exposed to air flow. Its cross-sectional shape, together with that of the entire body indicates how it is able to behave as an airfoil. The distribution of sensilla across the patagial surface reflect positioning indicative of the monitoring of scale-to-scale contact on the dorsal surface, and possibly air pressure and flow on the ventral surface.
库氏飞蹼守宫以其跳伞/滑翔能力而闻名。在本论文中，我们记录了其翼膜、附属皮瓣和褶皱的异速生长缩放特性以及其全身表面积，并将它们与飞蜥属蜥蜴斑飞蜥的类似特征进行比较。库氏飞蹼守宫具有缺乏骨骼支撑和肌肉控制的被动翼膜。对于相同吻肛长度的个体，库氏飞蹼守宫的翼膜面积小于斑飞蜥，但附属褶皱和皮瓣弥补了这一不足，并且对于同等大小的个体，库氏飞蹼守宫的全身表面积与斑飞蜥相当。从其鳞片排列模式和结构完整性、与体壁的关系及其展开机制以及机械感受性感器在其表面的分布等方面对库氏飞蹼守宫翼膜的结构进行了研究。翼膜的鳞片排列模式和内部结构表明了其在展开并暴露于气流时如何保持其形状和形态。其横截面形状以及整个身体的横截面形状表明了它如何能够充当翼型。感器在翼膜表面的分布反映了其定位，这表明其对背表面鳞片与鳞片之间接触的监测，以及可能对腹表面气压和气流的监测。
