Morphology, Function, and Phylogenetic Significance of Pubic Nipples in Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Pubic nipples (abdominal nipples located on the ventral body wall near the pubes) are present in only a few bat taxa. Examination of 1723 individuals representing 206 species in 83 genera indicates that pubic nipples are absent in megachiropterans and in the majority of microchiropteran families. Pubic nipples appear to be present in all species belonging to the families Rhinopomatidae, Craseonycteridae, Megadermatidae, and Rhinolophidae (including Hipposiderinae). Contrary to previous reports, pubic nipples do not occur in Nycteridae, Emballonuridae, Phyllostomidae, or "nyctophiline" vespertilionids. When present, pubic nipples are ubiquitous in females but may be absent in some males. Although many previous authors have indicated that pubic nipples do not function at all in lactation, gross morphology of pubic nipples suggests that they may have at least some lacteal function in many species. Lactation aside, it is clear that pubic nipples provide important holdfasts for the young in all taxa.