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<p>Morphological differences between male and female bats have often been studied with regard to the influence of environmental conditions and sexual dimorphism. In many bat species, females are larger than males. This study aimed to determine whether there is a trend in wing size differences between populations of the greater mouse–eared bat (<i>Myotis myotis</i>) at the northern and southern limits of its range. We analysed the measurements of 171 adult mouse–eared bats from western Poland and compared the values with literature data. Three measurements were taken: forearm length (FA), fifth finger length (D5) (indicating wing width), and third finger length (D3) (indicating wing length). These parameters are best suited to describe the differences between males and females in terms of environmental adaptation. The females of the Polish population of the greater mouse–eared bat, which is located at the northern limit of its range, are not statistically different from the Spanish population in terms of wing size. The only measure that differs between the females of the populations concerned is wing width; the wings of the Polish population are narrower (Mean D5 = 77.7&#xa0;mm). The wings of males from the Polish population (Mean: FA = 60.2&#xa0;mm, D3 = 91.5&#xa0;mm, D5 = 75.6&#xa0;mm) are smaller than those of the Spanish population. The wings of females are larger than those of males, regardless of latitude. The results obtained do not agree with Bergmann’s rule, but strengthen the ‘Big Mother’ hypothesis.</p>

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Wing size of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) in Poland compared with the southern range population

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月26日

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  • Jan Cichocki,
  • Adrianna Kościelska,
  • Katarzyna Janik–Superson,
  • Mateusz Ciepliński,
  • Jacek Bojarski

摘要

Morphological differences between male and female bats have often been studied with regard to the influence of environmental conditions and sexual dimorphism. In many bat species, females are larger than males. This study aimed to determine whether there is a trend in wing size differences between populations of the greater mouse–eared bat (Myotis myotis) at the northern and southern limits of its range. We analysed the measurements of 171 adult mouse–eared bats from western Poland and compared the values with literature data. Three measurements were taken: forearm length (FA), fifth finger length (D5) (indicating wing width), and third finger length (D3) (indicating wing length). These parameters are best suited to describe the differences between males and females in terms of environmental adaptation. The females of the Polish population of the greater mouse–eared bat, which is located at the northern limit of its range, are not statistically different from the Spanish population in terms of wing size. The only measure that differs between the females of the populations concerned is wing width; the wings of the Polish population are narrower (Mean D5 = 77.7 mm). The wings of males from the Polish population (Mean: FA = 60.2 mm, D3 = 91.5 mm, D5 = 75.6 mm) are smaller than those of the Spanish population. The wings of females are larger than those of males, regardless of latitude. The results obtained do not agree with Bergmann’s rule, but strengthen the ‘Big Mother’ hypothesis.