MORPHOLOGY OF THE MUSCULATURE OF THE ARM AND SHOULDER GIRDLE IN MORMOOPIDAE, PHYLLOSTOMIDAE AND NOCTILIONIDAE (MAMMALIA, CHIROPTERA)

Abstract

The musculature of the arm and pectoral girdle of the bats Phyllostomus hastatus (omnivorous/carnivorous), Glossophaga soricina (nectarivorous), Artibeus planirostris (frugivorous), Desmodus rotundus (hematophagous), Noctilio leporinus (piscivorous) and Pteronotus gymnonotus (insectivorous) was dissected and described. We found some inter-specific variation in origin and insertion of muscles as well as in their robustness. No variation was found in the muscles supraspinatus, triceps brachii – pectoralis major – pars clavicularis, pars sternocostalis and pars abdominalis, they are the principal muscles in the beating movement of the wing and probably are under stronger selection pressure. Keywords: Musculature, Arm and shoulder girdle, Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, Noctilionidae, Chiroptera.