Biology ETDs

Publication Date

5-5-1977

Abstract

The Molossidae is a worldwide, mostly tropical family of bats. This analysis examines what phenetically similar groups occur within the family; what ecological role species of molossids may have; and, finally, what kind of evolutionary relationships exist among phenetically similar species.

Seventy-six characters were taken on each of eighty species of molossids and analyzed by principal components, distance (size-in and size-out), and correlation analyses from the NT-SYS package of multivariate statistical programs. Phenetically similar bats are grouped and described morphologically. Morphological trends which are revealed by the principal components analysis are used to make ecological predictions about the bats' feeding and flying habits. Species have much variation in the shape of their jaws (from thick to thin) and in the configuration of their wings

(from broad wing tips to narrow). A comparison of each molossid fauna, Ethiopian, Indo-Australian, and Neotropical, i s made from a morpho-ecological viewpoint. Evoiutionary relationships of phenetically similar species and genera are examined as being phylogenetic or ecologically convergent. Genera that emerge from the analysis as being relatively equally dispersed morphologically are: the Tadarida-like molossids, Tadarida (Old World), Chaerephon, Mops, Otomops, Nyctinomops (New World Tadarida) , Eumops, Promops, and Molossus; and the Mormopterus-like molossids, Mormopterus

(including Sauromys and Platymops), Molossops (including Neoplatymops and Cynomops), Myopterus, and Cheiromeles.

Probably the Old World fauna as a whole is older than the New World fauna because it is not only where the largest concentration of primitive molossids occur (Ethiopia), but is also where the most morphologically distinctive 1molossids occur (Indo-Australia).

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

James Smith Findley

Second Committee Member

Joe Scott Altenbach

Third Committee Member

Karl F. Koopman

Fourth Committee Member

Norman J. Scott

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