Comparative hindlimb bone morphology in noctilionid fisher bats (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae), with emphasis onNoctilio leporinuspostnatal development

Abstract

The hindlimbs allow bats to attach to the mother from birth, and roost during independent life. Despite the great morphological diversity in Chiroptera, the hindlimbs morphology and its postnatal development have been poorly studied. Postnatal development of hindlimbs in Noctilio leporinus is described, further comparing the morphology of adults with that of Noctilio albiventris and previously reported species (Desmodus rotundus, Artibeus lituratus, Molossus molossus). The ossification ending sequence at autopodium elements of N. leporinus does not follow the distal to proximal directional sequence described for D. rotundus, exhibiting a heterochronic delayed ossification ending for the digits of N. leporinus regarding other hindlimb elements, associated with the bigger relative autopodium size of this fisher bat regarding other bat species. Noctilionid bats share the same adult hindlimb bone morphology, except for differences at hindlimb proportions and calcar ossification degree. There are differences in the number and position of bony processes, slots and sesamoids of adult noctilionid fisher bats regarding previously reported species; most differences are concentrated at the autopodium and are related to an increased surface for muscular insertion and the structural support of claws. These facts seem to be closely associated with functional demands of the feeding strategy of noctilionid fisher bats.

Postnatal cranial ontogeny of the Greater Bulldog Bat Noctilio leporinus (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae)

“…All deciduous teeth exhibit canine‐like morphology, allowing juveniles to cling to the mother's nipples (Vaughan, ). These deciduous teeth are completely lost in the subadult stage when the permanent teeth completely erupt (Figure d,f,g), coinciding with a marked cranial (Table ) and hindlimb development (Celeita et al, ), when the individuals of this species fly out of their roosting place for first time (Silva, ). The canines and the first permanent upper incisors (I 1 ) are caniniform, which makes it easy to hunt prey such as fish and large insects (Brooke, ; Freeman, ).…”

“…Although the mammalian skull is one of the most studied anatomical systems of vertebrates in aspects such as their evolution and function (Sánchez‐Villagra, Goswami, Weisbecker, Mock, & Kuratani, ), little is known about the postnatal cranial development in bats (Celeita, Reyes‐Amaya, & Jerez, ; Reyes‐Amaya & Jerez, ). This investigation field requires increased emphasis since it contributes to understanding the ecology, evolution and phylogeny of the species (Adams & Pedersen, ; Reyes‐Amaya & Jerez, ).…”

“…There is some research that deals with the bone and muscular anatomy of the skull of N. leporinus (Curtis & Santana, ; Eisenberg & Wilson, ; Freeman, ; Gorniak, ; Ospina‐Garcés et al, ; Santana, ). However, studies on the postnatal bone development and anatomy of this species have been limited to its appendicular skeleton (Celeita et al, ).…”

“…The postnatal development of the cranial bones of N. leporinus is gradual between the juvenile and the subadult stage, however, in the transition from the subadult to the adult stage there are abrupt developmental changes of some bone elements and sutures regarding the rest of the skull, as occurs with the zygomatic arch (za), and the cranial vault (Table ), including the occipital process (op) and the sagittal crest (cs), the latter with a continued growth in older adult specimens. Likewise, cranial developmental patterns of N. leporinus (Table ) corresponds with the maturity of its hindlimbs (Celeita et al, ), given its advanced development at late juvenile and subadult stages, when first flight explorations take place to feed independently (Silva, ).…”