91 



In allometrical respect of this feature, Brachyphylla does not even differ from Phyllo- 

 stomiis or Carollia (F-value = 1.82 referring to a table value of 3.23 for 95% 

 probability). It is quite interesting that Lionycteris, LonchophyUa and Platalina have the 

 least distances from the outgroup (they all differ with p<0.05 from the outgroup), and 

 Platalina remains exactly on the aUometric line calculated for LonchophyUa. In other 

 words: Platalina genovensium represents a large species of LonchophyUa also witli respect 

 to mandible proportions. 



Compared to body size, the phyllonycterines Erophylla and Phyllonycteris have flattened 

 coronoid processes just as in Glossophaga, Monophyllus, Hylonycteris or Anoura. In 

 Choeroniscus and Choeronycteris (including Musonycteris) the flattening of the mandibles 

 is even intensified, though their proportions do match in aUometrical respect. There is, 

 however, a striking difference between Hylonycteris and Choeroniscus (fig.71). As the 

 skuU morphology of Choeroniscus differs from Hylonycteris only by its shovel-like, 

 widened hamuh reaching up to the bullae, there is to be considered whether their function 

 may be related to the extreme flattening of the mandible. 



In the course of this study, many species were represented by few specimens. Thus it is 

 impossible to give a comprehensive comparison of intraspecific allometries for the entire 

 group. It does, however, make sense to give an intergeneric comparison of aUometric lines 

 between genera comprismg numerous individuals and species of distinctly different size. 

 In this respect, the previous systematic reviews suggest to refer to LonchophyUa, Glosso- 

 phaga, Anoura and Choeroniscus apart from the reference genera Carollia and Phyllosto- 

 mus. Erophylla, Phyllonycteris and Leptonycteris proved less appropriate, altliough there 

 were enough specimens available. But the values measured overlap in individual species 

 i.e. in these genera respective intraspecific variability exceeds interspecific distances. 

 Furthermore, differences obtained by measuring are partly found within the error range 

 given by the measuring method. 



277. 230 481.497 836.272 1452.452 2522.642 



Fig.71: Relation SIZE to coronoid height: comparison between Hylonycteris (□) and Choeroniscus {+) 



