Specialized Insectivory: Beetle-Eating and Moth-Eating Molossid Bats

Abstract

The jaw structure and mechanics of insectivores have been little studied. An efford is made here to compare and contrast jaw characteristics of insectivorous bats with thos of herbivores and carnivores. Further, in one particular family of bats (Molossidae) jaw modifications are such that animals that take hard-shelled insect prey can be distinguished from thos that take soft-shelled insect prey. Beetle-easters generally have thick jaws, well-developed cranial crests, and fewer but bigger teeth, whereas moth-eaters have thin jaws, little crest build-up, and more but smaller teeth