Cranial morphology reveals a lack of phylogenetic signal and rapid adaptive radiation in the bat genus Molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae)

被引：0

作者：

Olimpio, Ana Priscila Medeiros ^{[1
]}

Stefanello, Fabiano ^{[2
]}

da Natividade, Beatriz Dybas ^{[3
]}

Bernardi, Itibere Piaia ^{[4
]}

Lima, Amanda Cristiny da Silva ^{[1
]}

Mendes, Samira Brito ^{[5
]}

Costa, Cleison Luis da Silva ^{[5
]}

Fraga, Elmary da Costa ^{[6
]}

Barros, Maria Claudene ^{[6
]}

Sampaio, Iracilda ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Fed Univ Para UFPA, Grad Program Genet & Mol Biol PPGBM, Belem, PA, Brazil

[2] State Univ Santa Cruz UESC, Grad Program Zool, Ilheus, BA, Brazil

[3] Univ Illinois, Dept Biol Sci, Chicago, IL USA

[4] Pontifical Catholic Univ Parana PUC PR, Dept Biol Sci, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

[5] Maranhao State Univ UEMA, Grad Program Biodivers & Biotechnol Bionorte Netwo, Sao Luis, MA, Brazil

[6] Univ Estadual Maranhao, Ctr Higher Studies Caxias, Grad Program Biodivers Environm & Hlth, Caxias, MA, Brazil

来源：

PLOS ONE | 2025年 / 20卷 / 04期

关键词：

TAILED BATS; EVOLUTION; SHAPE; DIVERSIFICATION; PATTERNS; CAROLLIA;

D O I：

10.1371/journal.pone.0320117

中图分类号：

O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];

学科分类号：

07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;

摘要：

The 16 species of Molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) are distributed throughout the Neotropical region and can be classified into two groups: one consisting of morphologically similar yet phylogenetically divergent species, and another of morphologically distinct but closely related species. This dynamic has led to frequent revisions in the systematics and taxonomy of this genus. This study aimed to analyze patterns of diversification in cranial shape and size within Molossus species using geometric morphometrics (GM), integrating genetic and morphological data. A total of 299 specimens from ten Molossus species widely distributed across the Neotropics were examined, focusing on cranial size, shape diversity, and evolution, and correlating these findings with mitochondrial DNA-based phylogenetic data. Integrated morphometric and phylogenetic analyses revealed a complex evolutionary history within Molossus, with most speciation events occurring during the Pleistocene, suggesting a recent rapid adaptive radiation. GM analyses demonstrated patterns of divergence in cranial size with shape conservatism, and these traits were not significantly related to phylogeny. The data indicate that phylogenetic relationships have limited influence on cranial morphology due to the lack of a strong phylogenetic signal, suggesting that ecological factors, such as diet and habitat, have played central roles in the diversification of Molossus.

引用

页数：17