` Biology
Anatomy-
The anatomy of the Murina Tenebrosa is similar to the general skeleton of most bats.
Bat bone structures consist of 7 cervical vertebrae, 11 thoracic vertebrae, 4 lumbar vertebrae, and between 0 and 10 caudal vertebrae.
(The Anatomy of Bats. (2019). Earthlife.net.)
Wings
The Chiroptera order's most remarkable feature is its wings. The humerus is a long and thin bone comprised of articular surfaces and muscle attachments, located closest to the body of the bat. (Bat - Form and function. (2019). In Encyclopedia Britannica.) Connected to the humerus are the radius and ulna. The radius is as well a long and thin bone, but strong enough to support the wing. Alongside the radius is the ulna, a smaller bone of the olecranon process, meaning the "elbow" of the batwing. (Bat - Form and function. (2019). In Encyclopedia Britannica.) Among the batwing is the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th finger, as well as the thumb. The thumb has a substantial claw and is used for food handling, climbing, fighting, and is thought to have been used for walking in early evolution. Bat. (2022, February 23). Wikipedia.
Physiology-
Bats are known for their amazing environmental adaptations throughout their evolutionary history.
The Circulatory System-
The Megabat Megabat - New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Murina Tenebrosa has seen multitudes of physiological adaptations over time. The bat's remarkable adaptations in the circulatory system Physiological adaptations in Bat. (n.d.). Physiological Adaptations in Bat. have led the bat to pump more oxygen when in flight. Due to the bat's heart being 3 times the size of similar terrestrial mammals. Evolving to increase and decrease its heartbeats per minute. Increasing heart rate during flight to produce more oxygen and decreasing heart rate during hibernation to preserve energy. Physiological adaptations in Bat. (n.d.). Physiological Adaptations in Bat.
Echolocation-
Over time, bats adapted to their survival needs of hunting for insects and fruit and being able to fly long distances at night. (Echolocation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022) Evolving echolocation results in the ability to use low and high frequencies to detect prey. The Murina Tenebrosa is a Tube-Nosed bat of small size, using higher frequency to detect prey or danger. Physiological adaptations in Bat. (n.d.). Physiological Adaptations in Bat.
Thermoregulation-
Bats are mammals and are affected by the temperatures of their environments. Bats warm themselves with their own body heat by wrapping themselves in their wings. Bats specifically adapted to temperature during hibernation periods. Physiological adaptations in Bat. (n.d.). Physiological Adaptations in Bat. During extensive hibernation periods, the bat reduced 99.6% of its body temperature. When wings are extended, the bat may lose body heat, and when overheated, Megabats such as the Murina Tenebrosa Wing-Fans to self-regulate temperature. Ruth, M., & Hannon, B. (1997). Bat Thermoregulation. Modeling Dynamic Biological Systems, 123–126.
Bats have evolved to reduce metabolism to low levels during hibernation, storing fat deposits and saving energy. Czenze, Z. J., Naidoo, S., Kotze, A., & McKechnie, A. E. (2020). Bat thermoregulation in the heat: Limits to evaporative cooling capacity in three southern African bats. Journal of Thermal Biology, 89, 102542. Adaptations in metabolism rate are extremely important in bats because, during hibernation, some bats catch White-Nose Syndrome. (Deadly fungus affecting hibernating bats could spread during summer. (n.d.). ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 25, 2022.) WNS is a fungal growth that is deadly to hibernating bats, commonly spread by humans entering caves and attaching to shoes, equipment, and clothes. Bats infected with WNS also spread the fungus to non-infected caves. (Penn Vet | Fact Sheet Detail. (n.d.). Www.vet.upenn.edu. Retrieved April 25, 2022.)
White-Nose Syndrome or P. destructans thrives in low temperatures and high humidity. Due to Bat's ability to lower body temperature during hibernation, the fungi P.destructans rapidly colonizes caves and attaches to the nose, wings, and other parts of the body. (How Does White-Nose Syndrome Kill Bats? | U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). Www.usgs.gov. Retrieved April 25, 2022.) WNS uses twice as much fat as a healthy bat would during hibernation, which is why the adaptation of reduced metabolism rates during hibernation has benefitted bats suffering from WNS. (Biology. (n.d.). All about Bats. Retrieved April 25, 2022.) Without this adaptation, bats would be unable to hibernate for as long and would wake early, to temperatures they are not biologically able to endure.
Skull Of Murina Fanjingshanesis
Reproduction
Megabats like the Tsushima Tube-Nosed bats have a mating season that concedes with seasonal wet peaks. (Bat Mating and Reproduction Habits. (n.d.).Mating season commonly matches with seasonal peaks of fruit and nutrient abundance. The females prepare for the mating season by consuming mass nutrients to build body fat, as lactation in females massively drains energy. (Dinerstein, E. (1986). Reproductive Ecology of Fruit Bats and the Seasonality of Fruit Production in a Costa Rican Cloud Forest. Biotropica, 18(4), 307.)
The sub-order Megachiroptera have strong scent glands. These glands are used to mark a 2-meter branch to attract females. When a female is attracted, it will begin vocalizing, flapping, and grooming. In response, the male will do the same, actions consisting of more vocalization and grooming. (Biology. (n.d.). All about Bats.)
Reproduction Cycle-
Reproduction of members of the Mammalia class, is known as the Estrous Cycle. (Mammal - Reproduction | Britannica. (2019). In Encyclopædia Britannica).
During Ovulation, female chiropterans are looking to mate with male chiropterans. The Estrous Cycle is when the male pituitary gland and the ovaries interact, combining hormones. Mammal - Reproduction | Britannica. (2019). In Encyclopædia Britannica.
Male chioropterans of the Murina Genus breed during seasons with heavy rainfall, which result in peaks fruit and nutrient's. Seasonally breeding bat species such as the Murina Tenebrosa, store spermatoza in the epididmis temporarily, preparing for the prime breeding seaon. Reproductive Cycles of Mammals | Essay | Mammals | Reproductive Biology. (2017, March 21). Biology Discussion.
Beginning the Esterous Cycle, the male Testicles typically descend from the abdomen into postanal scrotal sacs in the breeding season.Estrous Cycle - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (2016).
The Murina Tenebrosa does not have a fixed breeding season, and experiences spermatogenesis during the right environmental conditions for the species.Reproductive Cycles of Mammals | Essay | Mammals | Reproductive Biology. (2017, March 21). Biology Discussion.
The female chiroptera Ovaries usally have corpora in both ovaries. Tropical females store spermatozoa in the genital tract. Epithelial Lining protects spermatoza, preparing for the gestation period in bats, varying in time. Fruit bats breed two times in a year, having shorter pregnancies compared to other bat species. The growth rate of the fetus ranged from 145 to 155 days and the second pregnancy ranging from 115 to 125 days. Reproductive Cycles of Mammals | Essay | Mammals | Reproductive Biology. (2017, March 21). Biology Discussion.
