How does flight in birds differ from that in insects?
Flight in birds | Flight in insects |
· All use direct muscles.
· Rate of wing beat per second is low · Air penetrates wing to reduce resistance · Muscles are attached on endoskeleton · Wing is thick, made up of bones, muscles and covered by feather · Keel extension for muscle attachment
· Supply of oxygen to active muscles is indirect; through blood · Turbulence is prevented by bastard wing
· Flight muscles have myoglobin |
· Some use indirect muscles
· Rate of wing beat per second is high · Air does not penetrate wing · Muscles are attached on exoskeleton · Wing is thin, membranous and made of chitin; no feather · Muscles are attached to tergum and sternum · Supply of oxygen to active muscles is direct; through tracheal system. · Some insect orders have halters to prevent turbulence. · Flight muscles lack myoglobin |