Evolutionary History of Bats
Fossils, Molecules and Morphology

This book explores the rich evolutionary history of bats from multiple perspectives, presenting some of the most remarkable discoveries involving fossil bats.

Gregg F. Gunnell (Edited by), Nancy B. Simmons (Edited by)

9780521745260, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 29 March 2012

572 pages, 133 b/w illus. 8 colour illus. 26 tables
24.6 x 17.4 x 2.6 cm, 1.13 kg

'For those with a technical interest in bat evolution.' The Guardian

Advances in morphological and molecular methods continue to uncover new information on the origin and evolution of bats. Presenting some of the most remarkable discoveries and research involving living and fossil bats, this book explores their evolutionary history from a range of perspectives. Phylogenetic studies based on both molecular and morphological data have established a framework of evolutionary relationships that provides a context for understanding many aspects of bat biology and diversification. In addition to detailed studies of the relationships and diversification of bats, the topics covered include the mechanisms and evolution of powered flight, evolution and enhancement of echolocation, feeding ecology, population genetic structure, ontogeny and growth of facial form, functional morphology and evolution of body size. The book also examines the fossil history of bats from their beginnings over 50 million years ago to their diversification into one of the most globally wide-spread orders of mammals living today.

List of contributors
Preface
1. Phylogenies, fossils and functional genes: the evolution of echolocation in bats Emma C. Teeling, Serena Dool and Mark Springer
2. Systematics and paleobiogeography of early bats Thierry Smith, Jörg Habersetzer, Nancy B. Simmons and Gregg F. Gunnell
3. Shoulder joint and inner ear of Tachypteron franzeni, an emballonurid bat from the middle Eocene of Messel Jörg Habersetzer, Evelyn Schlosser-Sturm, Gerhard Storch and Bernard Sigé
4. Evolutionary history of the Neotropical Chiroptera: the fossil record Gary S. Morgan and Nicholas J. Czaplewski
5. New Basal Noctilionoid Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from the Oligocene of Subtropical North America Nicholas J. Czaplewski and Gary S. Morgan
6. Necromantis Weithofer, 1887, large carnivorous middle and late Eocene bats from the French Quercy Phosphorites: new data and unresolved relationships Suzanne Hand, Bernard Sigé and Elodie Maitre
7. African Vespertilionoidea (Chiroptera) and the antiquity of Myotinae Gregg F. Gunnell, Thomas P. Eiting and Elwyn L. Simons
8. Evolutionary and ecological correlates of population genetic structure in bats Kevin J. Olival
9. A bird? A plane? No, it's a bat: an introduction to the biomechanics of bat flight Sharon M. Swartz, Jose Iriarte-Díaz, Daniel K. Riskin and Kenneth S. Breuer
10. Toward an integrative theory on the origin of bat flight Norberto P. Giannini
11. Molecular timescale of diversification of feeding strategy and morphology in New World Leaf-Nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae): a phylogenetic perspective Robert J. Baker, Olaf R. P. Bininda-Emonds, Hugo Mantilla-Meluk, Calvin A. Porter and Ronald A. Van Den Bussche
12. Why tribosphenic? On variation and constraint in developmental dynamics of chiropteran molars Ivan Horá?ek and František Špoutil
13. Necromantodonty, the primitive condition of lower molars among bats Bernard Sigé, Elodie Maitre and Suzanne Hand
14. Echolocation, evo-devo, and the evolution of bat crania Scott C. Pedersen and Douglas W. Timm
15. Vertebral fusion in bats: phylogenetic patterns and functional relationships Dawn J. Larkey, Shannon L. Datwyler and Winston C. Lancaster
16. Early evolution of body size in bats Norberto P. Giannini, Gregg F. Gunnell, Jörg Habersetzer and Nancy B. Simmons
Index.

Subject Areas: Zoology: Mammals [PSVW7], Zoology: Vertebrates [PSVW], Zoology & animal sciences [PSV], Developmental biology [PSC], Biology, life sciences [PS]