A morphological study on the dentition of Chiroptera

Abstract

We have reported previously on the morpholongy of the dentition of the Chiro-ptera in this journal (Vol.18, No.4, 1976). The present article is the description on Vespertilionidae as the second chapter of our work. The materials for this study were three species-Myotis macrodactylus, Pipistrellus abramus and Miniopterus schreibersi-of Vespertilionidae.The following results were obtained:1. The upper molar patterns of the Vespertilionidae were the Dilambdodont type. The paracones of the upper molars were well-developed. And the metacones of the first and second molars were also well-developed, but that of the third molar was absent.2. The parastyles and metastyles of the upper molars were well-developed, but the metastyles of the theird molar was absent.3. The protocone was derived from an elevation of the original internal cingulum. The protoconule and metaconule were well-devloped, but the latter of the third molar was absent.4. The upper fourth premolars had well-developed paracone, small parastyle and metastyle. The protocone was found in the upper fourth premolar, but this differentiation was poor. The second and third premolars of the upper and lower were greatly reduced.5. The lower molar was composed of a trigonid ane talonid. There were three cusps in the trigoid and talonid. The lower fourth premolar had well developed protoconid and two small tubercles.6. The canines were a sharp fang. The incisors were wedge shape and had three welldeveloped mammelons.