PERIPHERAL-BLOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF GRAVID SCHREIBERS LONG-FINGERED BATS, MINIOPTERUS-SCHREIBERSII NATALENSIS (MICROCHIROPTERA, VESPERTILIONIDAE)

The high erythrocyte count of bats is generally considered an adaptati on for the high metabolic requirements of flight. The results from 24 gravid Schreibers' long-fingered bats, used in this experiment, showed a high erythrocyte count (11.04 +/- 0.72 x 10(12) l(-1)) of small cel ls (mean cell volume = 51.23 +/- 0.86 fl) and a resultant haemoglobin concentration of 18.35 +/- 1.11 g dl(-1)). There were indications of t wo different erythrocyte populations present Bt the circulation and a significant degree of polychromasia was observed in 50% of smears. Two haemoglobin components were consistently seen on Paragon alkaline hae moglobin gels, and the haemoglobin electrophoretic mobility was marked ly tower than that of human blood. Lymphocytes represented the largest percentage (54.9%) of white blood cells. Neutrophils demonstrated ove rt hypersegmentation, with their granules, if present, not staining wi th either Wright's stain or haematoxylin and eosin. We conclude that h aemoglobin concentration rather than erythrocyte counts should be take n as a reflection of oxygen carrying capacity as the high count of sma ller erythrocytes represents diffusion and haemorrheological, rather t han oxygen-carrying, adaptations.