Structure of Noseleaf, Echolocation, and Foraging Behavior in the Phyllostomidae (Chiroptera)

Abstract

To explore the possibility that facial morphology, echolocation, and foraging behavior are related in some species of bats, intraspecific and interspecific differences in morphology of noseleaves were quantified by univariate and multivariate methods for 248 specimens representing 32 species in three subfamilies of Phyllostomidae (Phyllostominae, Stenoder-matinae, and Glossophaginae). The species showed a range of diets from mainly animals (Phyllostominae) to fruit (Stenodermatinae), and nectar and pollen (Glossophaginae), with the animal-eating species presumed to depend more upon echolocation to detect, locate, and assess prey than frugivorous or nectarivorous species. The canonical-variate analysis revealed significant differences in morphology of noseleaves among the three subfamilies, with three features (greatest length of noseleaf, length of spear, and length of horseshoe) showing the best discriminating power. Stenodermatines were characterized by the most-homogeneous, intraspecific structure of noseleaves glossophagines by the lowest interspecific variability. Phyllostomines showed the highest levels of variance and the most distinctive noseleaves. Euclidean distance values, calculated from measurements of morphology of noseleaf, were similar for most of the 17 species of phyllostomines suggesting that morphology of noseleaf is related to foraging and orientation behavior. The variety of structure of noseleaves in the Phyllostominae coincides with variation in diet, but not with variety in echolocation calls. The connection between structure of noseleaf and echolocation calls remains unclear, like the role of echolocation in the lives of phyllostomine bats.