Inter- and intraspecific variation in the Artibeus species complex demonstrates size and shape partitioning among species.

ABSTRACT: Neotropical leaf-nosed bats (family Phyllostomidae) are one of the most diverse mammalian families and Artibeus spp. is one of the most speciose phyllostomid genera. In spite of their species diversity, previous work on Artibeus crania using linear morphometrics has uncovered limited interspecific variation. This dearth of shape variation suggests that differences in cranial morphology are not contributing to niche partitioning across species, many of which are often found in sympatry. Using two-dimensional geometric morphometric methods on crania from eleven species from the Artibeus species complex, the current study demonstrates substantial cranial interspecific variation, sexual size and shape dimorphism, and intraspecific geographic variation. The majority of spec

SUBMITTER: Hedrick BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8280882 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature