Jaw ‐Dropping: Functional Variation in the Digastric Muscle in Bats

In this study, we explored how the morphology of the digastric muscle, the primary jaw abducting muscle in mammals, and its jaw lever mechanics are related to diet in morphologically diverse noctilionoid bats. Results showed that insectivorous bats have strong digastric muscles associated with proportionally long jaws, which suggests these species can open their jaws quickly and powerfully during prey capture and chewing. Short snouted frugivorous bats exhibit traits that would enable them to open their jaws proportionally wider to accommodate the large fruits that they commonly feed on. Our results support the hypothesis that digastric muscle and jaw morphology are correlated with diet in bats, and that our results may also apply to other groups of mammals. Anat Rec, 301:279–290, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Source: The Anatomical Record Part A: Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology - January 13, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Abigail A. Curtis, Sharlene E. Santana Tags: Special Issue Article Source Type: research