Cladistical Analysis of Female Reproductive Histomorphology in Phyllostomatoid Bats

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A cladistic analysis of the Neotropical bat families Noctilionidae, Mormoopidae and Phyllostomatidae is presented utilizing structures of the female reproductive tract. Several shared-derived (synapomorphous) features of the uterus, oviduct and ovaries were identified within these taxa. These included features of external and internal uterine anatomy, the uterotubal junction, form of oviductal mucosal folds, anatomical relationships between oviduct and uterus and the position of the ovarian ligament. A cladogram based on these female reproductive histomorphological synapomorphies was constructed and is proposed as a phylogenetic hypothesis. This hypothesis was tested for congruence with independent data sets involving comparative morphological, karyological and biochemical characteristics. Noctilionids, mormoopids and phyllostomatids possess synapomorphies that indicate they shared a common ancestor and thereby form a monophyletic group, the Phyllostomatoidea. Based on features of the female reproductive tract, the Neotropical family Thyropteridae (previously assigned to the superfamily Vespertilionoidea) should be included in considering phylogenetic relationships of the Phyllostomatoidea. Familial relationships are conflicting; some studies specify a sister-group relationship between mormoopids and phyllostomatids, whereas others suggest a noctilionid-mormoopid relationship. Relationships within the Phyllostomatidae are resolved at subfamilial levels with female reproductive and independent data sets. The high level of congruence found between the phylogenetic relationships predicted by these data sets is proposed as strong evidence for the phylogenetic resolving power of female reproductive histomorphology.