Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
8-2026
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Justin Ledogar
Committee Members
Richard Carter, Joshua Samuels
Abstract
Plant-visiting bats exhibit remarkable diversity in cranial morphology, yet many species consume similar diets. This study investigated whether fruit-eating bats from the families Phyllostomidae and Pteropodidae have converged on similar cranial mechanics despite their distinct evolutionary histories and skull shapes. Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and finite element analysis were used to compare cranial shape, strain during biting, and mechanical advantage across 26 bat species representing multiple dietary groups.
Cranial shape was significantly influenced by allometry, phylogeny, and diet. No significant differences in cranial strain among bat families or dietary groups during canine or molar biting. Fruit-eating bats from both major lineages exhibited significantly greater canine mechanical advantage relative to insectivorous and nectarivorous bats, suggesting convergence in feeding mechanics despite divergent cranial morphology. These results indicate that similar functional adaptations for fruit feeding evolved independently in separate bat lineages while overall skull shape remained strongly influenced by body size and phylogeny.
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Neill, Michael N., "An Evaluation of Convergent Mechanical Evolution in Plant-visiting Bats" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4748. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4748
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
