Nguyen ST, Motokawa M, Oshida T, Endo H. A morphological analysis of the skull size and shape of Kerivoulinae (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Vietnam.
J Vet Med Sci 2015;
78:187-98. [PMID:
26346743 PMCID:
PMC4785106 DOI:
10.1292/jvms.15-0270]
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Abstract
Southeast Asia is a region of high biodiversity, containing species of plants and animals that are yet to be
discovered. In this region, bats of the subfamily Kerivoulinae are widespread and diverse with six species
recorded in Vietnam. However, the taxonomy of the Kerivoulinae in Asia is complicated. In our study, we used
diagnostic characters and multivariate analysis to determine morphological differences between the genera
Kerivoula and Phoniscus. We showed that the two genera are distinguishable
by the size of second upper incisors, the shape of skull, nasal sinus, canines, second upper and lower
premolars. In addition, the two genera can be osteometrically separated by measurements of the braincase
height, interorbital width and shape of anterior palatal emargination. Our data clearly revealed the
morphological variations in the skull shape of Kerivoula hardwickii in Vietnam. This suggests
a possible separation into three morphotypes, representing cryptic species supported by statistical
differences with wide variation in skull shape, size and teeth. These results demonstrated Kerivoula
hardwickii can be separated three subspecies, and the result will serve as the basis for the future
assessment and classification of this group in Southeast Asia.
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