Morphology of the hand skeleton of bats of the genus Noctilio (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae)

Abstract

In this study, we provide a description of the anterior autopodium of two extant species of bats of the genus Noctilio. Based on the description of Noctilio and the comparisons with other Neotropical bat species, we conclude that this genus has a set of morphological characteristics (e.g. the shape of the radiusscaphocentralunate facet, the presence of two scaphocentralunatemagnum facets, the palmar notch of the trapezoid and the palmarly expanded greater tubercle in metacarpal V) that clearly distinguish it from the families Phyllostomidae, Molossidae, and Vespertilionidae. The distinguished morphological characters of Noctilio may be closely related to its evolutionary history, but also to ecological aspects such as the slow and maneuverable flight and piscivorous and arthropodophagous habits. However, in the proximal carpal joint of Noctilio some characters are shared with phyllostomids and some vespertilionids while it differs with molossids and Lasiurini. Finally, the anatomical and functional information provided will be very useful for future comparative studies involving extant and extinct species, in order to analyze the anatomical changes archived for to powered flight.