. Bonner zoologische Monographien. Zoology. 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
. Bonner zoologische Monographien. Zoology. 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 Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of
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