DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGUMENTARY STRUCTURES IN ROUSETTUS AMPLEXICAUDATUS (MAMMALIA: CHIROPTERA: PTEROPODIDAE) DURING LATE-EMBRYONIC AND FETAL STAGES

NORBERTO P. GIANNINI; ANJALI GOSWAMI; MARCELO R. SÁNCHEZ-VILLAGRA

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIVISION ALLEN PRESS

Año: 2006 vol. 87 p. 993 - 1001

0022-2372

The pattern of development of integumentary structures and associated tissues in the megachiropteran bat Rousettus amplexicaudatus is described on the basis of 18 specimens ranging in crown–rump length (CRL) from 8.5 to 44.4 mm. The ontogenetic sample encompasses specimens that correspond to stages 16 through 22 of the phyllostomid Carollia perspicillata (late-embryonic) as well as fetal stages. Although the earlier stages of R. amplexicaudatus show little deviations in relative timing or anatomy from Carollia, later ones are increasingly different. Integumentary structures show different degrees of developmental penetrance. Derived features in embryonic stages are clearly reflected in adult structures such as a great enlargement of the handplate in relation to the footplate at the moment in which both are fully differentiated. We propose that patagium morphogenesis includes development of dactylopatagium by initial retention and posterior growth of interdigital tissue, coupledwith digit elongation; and development of pro-, plagio-, and uropatagium in association with wing muscles unique to bats. Additionally, allometric trends in wingspan, total wing area, arm-wing area, and hand-wing area were estimated with respect to CRL. Changes in the terminology of some Carollia stages (16 and 18) are proposed to facilitate comparisons across bat species.