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1 December 2010 Morphological Evidence for Hybridization in the Sister Species Myotis myotis and Myotis oxygnathus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Carpathian Basin
Justyna Bachanek, Tomasz Postawa
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Abstract

A recent molecular-based study suggested that two sister species of mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis and M. oxygnathus) share some mtDNA haplotypes when they occur in sympatry. We used traditional morphometric methods in order to find potential hybrid specimens. Multivariate morphometric analysis of 22 cranial and dental characters was applied to a sample of 298 adult specimens of mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis and M. oxygnathus) from their sympatric range in the Carpathian Basin. Additionally, we included several juvenile exemplars of both species in order to exclude the treatment of juvenile specimens as individuals with intermediate characteristics. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) revealed a distinct separation between specimens of M. myotis and M. oxygnathus, with 6 specimens in an intermediate position. All intermediate specimens come from the contact area of M. myotis and M. oxygnathus. A subsequent detailed analysis showed that intermediate specimens are similar to M. myotis in skull and mandible size, but with tooth-row size similar to M. oxygnathus. An analogous situation has been described in several species of small mammals. Bats designated as intermediate are probable hybrids, i.e. their phenotypes lay between the parental forms.

© Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS
Justyna Bachanek and Tomasz Postawa "Morphological Evidence for Hybridization in the Sister Species Myotis myotis and Myotis oxygnathus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Carpathian Basin," Acta Chiropterologica 12(2), 439-448, (1 December 2010). https://doi.org/10.3161/150811010X538007
Received: 9 November 2009; Accepted: 1 September 2010; Published: 1 December 2010
KEYWORDS
Carpathian Basin
cranial measurements
intermediate individuals
morphological analysis
Mouse-eared bat
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