Chiroptera Flashcards
Aspect ratio
Proportion of wing length to width
Characteristics of order Chiroptera
-powered flight -shoulder-locking mechanism -presence of calcar or uropatagial spur -elongate hand bones form wing -enlarged radius, reduced ulna -modified elbow -hip and knee rotated 180 -reduced premaxillae
High aspect ratio wings
Long Narrow Allow for sustained, relatively fast flight Seen in bats foraging high above ground in open habitat
Low aspect ratio wings
Short Wide Slower, more maneuverable flight Seen in bats foraging in dense understory veg
Uropatagium
Membrane between hind limbs that encloses the tail Highly variable Not directly used in flight but may act as stabilizer and contribute to lift
Shoulder lock mechanism
Greater tuberosity of humerus fits into scapula as wing comes up, upward rotation of humerus is stopped by acromion process of scapula To prevent hyper extension of shoulder on upstroke in flight
Echolocation: Mega- vs. Microchiroptera
Micro echolocate
Presence of postorbital process: Mega vs. Microchiroptera
Mega has postorbital process
Claw on second digit: Mega or Microchiroptera?
Megachiroptera
Tragus or anti-tragus well developed: Mega or Microchiroptera
Microchiroptera Possibly helps in echolocation
Facial ornamentation: Mega or Microchiroptera?
Microchiroptera May help in echolocation
Presence of tail/uropatagium: Mega or Microchiroptera?
Microchiroptera
Well-developed angular process on mandible: Mega or Microchiroptera?
Microchiroptera Megachiroptera have angular process absent or broad/low
Body size generally small: Mega or Microchiroptera
Microchiroptera
Suborder Megachiroptera
IC Eutheria O Chiroptera -postorbital process present -claw on second digit -reduced or absent tail/uropatagium -angular process absent or broad/low
Family Pteropodidae
Old World fruit bats IC Eutheria O Chiroptera sO Megachiroptera -Postorbital process present -Tail and uropatagium usually absent -Claw usually present on second digit -Tragus absent -Angular process on mandible absent or broad and low -locate food using olfaction -a few spp. echolocate using low freq sounds -tend to be larger than Microchiropterans -dentition contains large canines and elongate, basin-shaped cheekteeth —nectar-feeders: teeth reduced —insectivores: well-cusped
Suborder Microchiroptera
echolocating bats IC Eutheria O Chiroptera -postorbital process usually absent -tragus or anti-tragus well-developed in most -evident facial ornamentation -tail/uropatagium present in most -well-developed angular process on mandible -body size generally small