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Correlations between call frequency and ear length in bats belonging to the families Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2003

Zhao Huihua
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100080, Beijing, China Department of Biology, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
Zhang Shuyi
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100080, Beijing, China
Zuo Mingxue
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
Zhou Jiang
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100080, Beijing, China Department of Biology, Guizhou Normal University, 550001, Guiyang, China
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Abstract

Echolocation calls of 10 species of rhinolophid and four species of hipposiderid bats were recorded in China. Close negative relationships were found within Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae between call frequency and ear length. Multiple regression and residual analysis were used to evaluate the influences of forearm length and ear length on call frequency and ear size. Ear length proved to be a more important morphological parameter influencing the call frequency in rhinolophids but not in hipposiderids. Ears are largely shaped by echolocation calls in both families. The influence of body size on ear size was significant in rhinolophids but not in hipposiderids, and the enlarged ears of rhinolophids correlated with the lower frequencies that rhinolophids used relative to larger body size.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2003 The Zoological Society of London

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