Quiz - Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You?

[den]

if you've met me... just shut up.

Comments

[level-head.livejournal.com]

Now I am looking into this.

From the following web site:
http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/fall99projects/vampire.htm

"Bats are the only true flying mammals, with about 925 different species identified. Of all these species, only the common vampire bat is able to maneuver on the ground as well as in the air. According to Schutt (1998), vampire bats can move side to side and backward, similar to a spider. Instead of taking off in flight from the ground, these bats actually launch themselves into the air with powerful pectoral muscles. The force comes from the bat extending its hind knees, leaning forward and using its forelimbs. The bat also invokes its triceps muscle and very long thumb. While the jump only takes about 30 milliseconds, the bat catapults itself about 4 feet into the air. Altenbach (1979) comments, “although a few other species of bats move readily on the ground and some take off from the ground, no other species possess the extreme terrestrial agility and jumping ability of Desmodus”. Once in the air, the transition into flight is basically one fluid motion. Since the vampire bat feeds at ground level, their agility and fast take-off is an amazing advantage."

Jumping 120cm up? A 7cm bat? That would be something to see!

I will send this to Mr. Kellogg as well.

===|==============/ Level Head

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

THe short-tailed bats of New Zealand are ground-feeding insectivores, but they can't jump that high. Good grief, that's Olympic Gold Medal jumping! My dodgy calculations tell me a 2m high human (200cm) would have to jump 34m from a standing leap. 110ish feet.

[level-head.livejournal.com]

I can imagine "The Celebrated Jumping Bats of Calaveras County" as a contest.

It would be a bit tricky; the whole point of that takeoff is not to come back down, and it is a transition to flight not entirely unlike Jenny's takeoffs. (Well, in direction, even if rather more abrupt.)

Having been to Calaveras, I picture a similar Walk of Fame with stars in the sidewalk for famous vampire bats, noting the date and altitude of the jump.

The amphibious version of this contest's record is still held by Rosie the Ribiter, who cleared 21 feet 5.75 inches or more than six and a half meters in a single horizontal jump in 1986. The frog's body length is similar to the vampire bat's (7-10cm), making this an even more impressive jump.

===|==============/ Level Head