Observations on the vomeronasal organ of Pteronotus macleayii and Pteronotus quadridens (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) / Observations sur l'organe voméronasal de Pteronotus macleayii et Pteronotus quadridens (Chiroptères: Mormoopidae)

Abstract

New observations on the morphology of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of Pteronotus macleayii and P. quadridens indicate that of the six known species of the genus Pteronotus, four (parnellii, gymnonotus, macleayii, and quadridens) are endowed with a functional VNO, whereas P. personatus is not, and information is lacking on the sixth species, P. davyi. Such incongruity of a conservative structure like the VNO within the genus Pteronotus is unexpected. Among the remaining mormoopids, Mormoops megalophylla has a rudimentary VNO, but observations on the VNO of M. blainvillii are required before discussion of the VNO of the genus Mormoops can be undertaken.