Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil
Normally, the wings are assumed to be symmetrical, since radical departure from symmetry is known to hinder flight. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the symmetry of the wing structure in a population of common vampire bats, Desmodus rotundus. The bones of both wings were measure...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2015-05-01
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| Series: | Subterranean Biology |
| Online Access: | http://subtbiol.pensoft.net/lib/ajax_srv/article_elements_srv.php?action=download_pdf&item_id=4807 |
| _version_ | 1797727474015010816 |
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| author | Amanda Ueti Paulo Santos Pompeu Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira |
| author_facet | Amanda Ueti Paulo Santos Pompeu Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira |
| author_sort | Amanda Ueti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Normally, the wings are assumed to be symmetrical, since radical departure from symmetry is known to hinder flight. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the symmetry of the wing structure in a population of common vampire bats, Desmodus rotundus. The bones of both wings were measured, and the area of each wing was calculated. Asymmetry was found, with males having a larger number of asymmetric bone structures than females. Moreover, both directional asymmetry and antisymmetry were identified for the males, whereas for the females only fluctuating asymmetry was found. However, although asymmetry does occur, it is generally compensated for by complementary changes in the structures of the other wing. We believe that by keeping the wing area symmetrical, potential aerodynamic problems may be minimized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:00:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1af7a6a37b294dc9b209ff28e2a63697 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1768-1448 1314-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:00:15Z |
| publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Subterranean Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1af7a6a37b294dc9b209ff28e2a636972023-09-02T05:45:18ZengPensoft PublishersSubterranean Biology1768-14481314-26152015-05-0115576710.3897/subtbiol.15.48074807Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in BrazilAmanda UetiPaulo Santos PompeuRodrigo Lopes FerreiraNormally, the wings are assumed to be symmetrical, since radical departure from symmetry is known to hinder flight. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the symmetry of the wing structure in a population of common vampire bats, Desmodus rotundus. The bones of both wings were measured, and the area of each wing was calculated. Asymmetry was found, with males having a larger number of asymmetric bone structures than females. Moreover, both directional asymmetry and antisymmetry were identified for the males, whereas for the females only fluctuating asymmetry was found. However, although asymmetry does occur, it is generally compensated for by complementary changes in the structures of the other wing. We believe that by keeping the wing area symmetrical, potential aerodynamic problems may be minimized.http://subtbiol.pensoft.net/lib/ajax_srv/article_elements_srv.php?action=download_pdf&item_id=4807 |
| spellingShingle | Amanda Ueti Paulo Santos Pompeu Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil Subterranean Biology |
| title | Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil |
| title_full | Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil |
| title_short | Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil |
| title_sort | asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave a case study in brazil |
| url | http://subtbiol.pensoft.net/lib/ajax_srv/article_elements_srv.php?action=download_pdf&item_id=4807 |
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