A histological examination of the holding sacs and glandular scent organs of some bat species (Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae)

Using histological techniques at the light-microscope level, we examined an d compared structure and sexual dimorphism of the wing sacs and integumenta ry glandular scent organs of 11 species of microchiropteran bats. The anteb rachial wing sacs of the Neotropical emballonurids Peropteryx macrotis, Sac copteryx bilineata, and Saccopteryx leptura differed in size and location b ut lacked sudoriferous and sebaceous glands, confirming that they were hold ing sacs rather than glandular scent organs. Glandular scent organs from 11 species consisted of sebaceous and (or) sudoriferous glands in emballonuri ds (P. macrotis, S. bilineata, S. leptura, Taphozous melanopogon, Taphozous nudiventris), hipposiderids (Hipposiderous fulvus, Hipposiderous ater), th e phyllostomid Sturnira lilium, the vespertilionid Rhogeessa anaeus, and mo lossids (Molossus ater and Molossus sinaloe). Glandular scent organs were l ocated on the face (H. fulvus, H. ater), gular region (S. bilineata, P. mac rotis, T. melanopogon, M. ater, M. sinaloe), chest (T. nudiventris), should er (S. lilium), or ears (R. anaeus). Glandular scent organs showed greater similarities within than between families, and typically were rudimentary o r lacking in females. Scanning electron microscope examination revealed tha t the hairs associated with glandular areas of male T. melanopogon were lar ger and had a different cuticular-scale pattern than body hairs. These were osmetrichia, hairs specialized for holding and dispersing glandular produc ts. In S. lilium, hairs associated with the shoulder scent-gland area were larger than body hairs but similar in cuticular-scale pattern.