5 



INTRODUCTION 



With more than 900 species, the Chiroptera represent the most comprehensive mammalian 

 order next to the rodents. By developing physical ability for continuous flight bats 

 succeeded in exploring habitats almost without vertebrate competitors - the nocturnal 

 airspace. Tlieir morphological adaptations are just as consistent; having specialized their 

 anatomy in flight and a hanging restmg position, most bats are hardly capable of qua- 

 drupedal locomotion, apart from crawling over short distances. 



General body shape hardly varies within the Chiroptera - presumably due to strict 

 requirements for free flight. Differences are delicate and restricted to body size, wing 

 shape, development of the uropatagium and tail length. However, the chiropteran head is 

 one of the most striking characters in specific detemiination. Due to echolocation many 

 microchiropterans show an oddity of complex structures on ears and often also nose winch 

 aid in directed emission and perception of sound. 



Having successfully conquered the nocturnal skies, the primarily insectivorous Cliiroptera 

 developed a variety of new diet preferences - camivory {Megademia, Vampynim, 

 Phyllostomus, Trachops), piscivory {Pizonyx, Noctilio) and even - unique among the 

 manmialia - sanguivory {Desmodus, Diaemus, Diphylla). Besides, many species also take 

 vegetable food: frugivorous and even few nectarivorous species prevail among the 

 Megacliiroptera (Pteropodidae), but also the Microchiroptera developed a variety of fruit 

 and flower-feeding genera within the Phyllostomidae. 



These various diet preferences within the Microcliiroptera have their morphological 

 expression primarily in the shape of the head and in the dentition. Thus, skull morphology 

 of bats developed some remarkable diversity witliin the mammalia. 



Fig.l: Skull shape depending 

 on diet specialization within 

 the Phyllostomatidae 

 {Centurio senex = fruit eater, 

 Choeronycteris harrisoni = 

 blossom feeder, adapted 

 from Koopman 1987) 



