Muscular Adaptation of the Nectar-Eating Bats (Subfamily Glossophaginae)
1954; Kansas Academy of Science; Volume: 57; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/3626058
ISSN1938-5420
Autores Tópico(s)Evolution and Paleontology Studies
ResumoSome possible correlations among bats between structures and functions connected with alimentation were suggested by Lautenschlager (1935) and later by Park and Hall (1951). It seemed to me that a comparison of the musculature of the throat among bats that had different food habits might show some modification of these muscles in correlation with certain specialized food habits. After a general survey of bats representing different food habits, it was found that only the nectar-eating bats of the Subfamily Glossophaginae, had a highly modified musculature of the throat. Some of these modifications are easily correlated with the specialized food habits of these bats. The most striking adaptations of the musculature are the new origin and insertion of the sternohyoideus, and a highly modified geniohyoideus. The specimens dissected were as follows: Leptonycteris nivalis (Saussure), Nos. 34181, 34198-206,34509-11,34515-20,1 34522. Five mi. W Chapala, 5000 ft., Jalisco, Mexico. July, 1949. Glossophaga elongata Miller, Nos. 105221, 105233. Mal Paies, Curacao, Dutch West Indies. Glossophaga soricina (Pallas), No. 257249. Chilibrillo, Panama. March, 1932. Glossophaga soricina (Pallas), No. 34510. Five mi. W Chapala, 5000 ft., Jalisco, Mexico. July, 1949. Lonchophylla robusta Miller, Nos.; 266808, 266909. Chilibrillo, Panama. March, 1932. Choeronycteris mexicana Tschudi, Nos. 31985 (21 mi. SW Guadalajara), 31988 (N side Rio Ayuguida, 7 mi. NE Autlan). State of Jalisco, Mexico. August, 1950. Anoura geoffroyi Gray, No. 92582. San Sebastian, Jalisco, Mexico. March 21, 1897. Monophyllus cubanus Miller, No. 113677. Baracoa, Eastern Cuba. February 3, 1902. Before describing the throat musculature of the nectar-eating bats, it is advisable to discuss some general points concerning the musculature of the throat of bats of the suborder Microchiroptera. Some of the muscles, such as hyoglossus, sternohyoideus, and geniohyoideus, that have connection with the hyoid bone in mammals of other orders are not connected directly with that bone in the Microchiroptera in
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