Research Training Program

Michelle Knapp
Harvard College
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Dr. Al Gardner, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Vertebrate Zoology
Division of Mammals

"RTP was a wonderful chance for me to do research using the largest mammal collection in the world. I could not have gotten an experience like this anywhere else."

A description of the structure and distribution of buccal cavity characters in the Chiroptera

This research focused on examining the area between the teeth and the lips in bats and describing the features that existed there. It was discovered that many groups of bats possess a ridge that runs right between the teeth and lips and does not seem to be attached to either the gums or the lips. The discovery was also made that many species have papillae, which resemble pimples but which in the bats examined were generally pointed. Animals eating both fruit and insects contained these structures, so they do not seem to be related to food source. However, they do appear in a pattern that follows a recent, controversial theory of how bat groups are related to each other in terms of their evolution. It is believed that these structures may be evidence that that theory is correct. These structures may also provide insight into how bats feed. For example, the fringe-lipped bat eats frogs. It can sense if a frog is poisonous and avoid eating it; perhaps these structures are related to that ability. A better understanding of bats will help researchers plan conservation programs for endangered species.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number DBI 9820303.

Letter of Gratitude