Date of Award
Spring 2026
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Biology; College of Arts & Sciences
First Advisor
Paul M. Velazco
Abstract
This thesis investigates the evolutionary relationships among disk-winged bats in the genus Thyroptera, a small group of Neotropical bats known for the adhesive suction disks on their wings and feet that allow them to roost inside tightly rolled leaves. The distinctive morphology and behavior of these bats have not been extensively documented, and their phylogenetic relationships remain only partially resolved. The goal of this research is to better understand how these species are related to one another and to determine whether the five recognized species of Thyroptera form a single monophyletic group. To address this question, morphological and genetic data were examined using specimens collected throughout the Amazon basin, including Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil. More than 1,500 photographs and measurements from specimens were compiled and organized using Morphobank to document and compare anatomical traits. Hundreds of morphological characters, primarily involving cranial morphology, dentition, and external features, were analyzed to identify shared characteristics among species. Genetic code was compiled from GenBank to form a cladogram and reconstruct an evolutionary relationship. To provide a comparative framework, two species of bulldog bats in the genus Noctilio were used as an outgroup to highlight evolutionary differences between families. The results support the hypothesis that Thyroptera forms a monophyletic lineage defined by shared morphological traits. These findings suggest that ecological pressure and specialization, particularly the use of rolled leaves as roosts, may have played a role in shaping the diversification of disk-winged bats distributed across the Amazon basin.
Recommended Citation
Klumpp, Courtney L., "Systematics of Disk-Winged Bats (Thyroptera)" (2026). Capstone Showcase. 1.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2026/bio/1
Included in
Animal Experimentation and Research Commons, Animal Studies Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Bioinformatics Commons, Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology Commons, Computational Biology Commons, Evolution Commons, Genomics Commons, Integrative Biology Commons, Molecular Biology Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, Structural Biology Commons, Zoology Commons
Systematics of Disk-Winged Bats (Thyroptera)
This thesis investigates the evolutionary relationships among disk-winged bats in the genus Thyroptera, a small group of Neotropical bats known for the adhesive suction disks on their wings and feet that allow them to roost inside tightly rolled leaves. The distinctive morphology and behavior of these bats have not been extensively documented, and their phylogenetic relationships remain only partially resolved. The goal of this research is to better understand how these species are related to one another and to determine whether the five recognized species of Thyroptera form a single monophyletic group. To address this question, morphological and genetic data were examined using specimens collected throughout the Amazon basin, including Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil. More than 1,500 photographs and measurements from specimens were compiled and organized using Morphobank to document and compare anatomical traits. Hundreds of morphological characters, primarily involving cranial morphology, dentition, and external features, were analyzed to identify shared characteristics among species. Genetic code was compiled from GenBank to form a cladogram and reconstruct an evolutionary relationship. To provide a comparative framework, two species of bulldog bats in the genus Noctilio were used as an outgroup to highlight evolutionary differences between families. The results support the hypothesis that Thyroptera forms a monophyletic lineage defined by shared morphological traits. These findings suggest that ecological pressure and specialization, particularly the use of rolled leaves as roosts, may have played a role in shaping the diversification of disk-winged bats distributed across the Amazon basin.