Zoology 365
Biology of Mammals
Spring Semester, 2006
Terri McElhinny- Michigan State University
| Zoology 365 |
Biology of Mammals |
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Spring Semester, 2006 |
Terri McElhinny- Michigan State University |
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First, check out the special topics on bats on the Animal Diversity Web page.
1. Which Order includes the bats?
Okay, it's name that Family time....
2. First, we have a skull with a gap in the premaxilla, that forms a C shape. You notice that the skin has a v-shaped uropatagium, with the point of the v facing posteriorly, toward the feet of the critter. Family?3. Next is a skull with a premaxilla free of the maxilla. The uropatagium is also v shaped and pointing posteriorly. Family?
4. Here's a skull with a huge sagittal crest. The skin of the critter has large claws. Family?
5. Next is a skull with two palatal foramen and scalpel-like teeth. The uropatagium is an upside-down u shape. Family?
6. Now here's a larger skull with a longer rostrum and pointy post-orbital processes. The skin of the animal is huge, huge, I tell you. The face is rather dog-like. Family?
7. At the next station, you don't even really look at the skull, because you notice that the skin has a tail that extends past the lower margin of the uropatagium. Family?
8. How can you tell the difference between Myotis lucifugus and Eptesicus fuscus?
Okay, since there's not much taxonomic information in this lab, make sure that you're up on your ranges, habits, diets, habitats, etc...
9.What is the range of Noctilionidae?
10. What is the range of Phyllostomidae?
11. What is the range of Pteropodidae?
12. What is the range of Mollosidae?
13. What is the range of Vespertilionidae?
Laura Sams, former Mammalogy TA and famous author of the popular song "Rodent Ranges" also wrote a little known song about bat ranges to the tune of
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
Take me out to the New World,
Where the bat families fly.
I will see bulldog and vampire bats.
I don't care if I ever get back.
To the fruit, fruit bats of the Old World,
Where horseshoe bats do reside.
Well, the one, two other families,
Are both found worldwide!
Note: for the New World, bulldog = Noctilionidae, vampire = Phyllostomidae
for the Old World, fruit = Pteropodidae, horseshoe = Rhinolophidae
for worldwide (pretty much), the other two are Vespertilionidae and Molossidae