This page has images of the bat (chiroptera) stages of embryonic development from Stage 10 to 24. Below this is a table of key features of development at each stage.
Page Links: Introduction | Bat Stage 10 to 13 | Bat Stage 12 to 17 | Bat Stage 18 to 24 | Development Overview | WWW Links | References | Glossary
(Image: Creteko & Behringer)
Stage |
Key features |
Somites |
Age |
Crown-rump length |
12 |
Forelimb buds form; tail bud forms; caudal neuropore closes; 3 pharyngeal arches. |
21-29 |
40 |
3.4 |
(Image: Creteko & Behringer)
Stage |
Key features |
Age (Somites) |
Crown-rump length |
12 |
Forelimb buds form; tail bud forms; caudal neuropore closes; 3 pharyngeal arches. |
40 (21-29) |
3.4 |
14 |
Retinal pigment; nasal pits; end of somitogenesis; propatagium and plagiopatagium primordia; hindlimb AER. |
44 (36-40) |
5.35 |
15 |
Hand plate and footplate form; lens vesicle; auditory hillocks; premaxillary centers. |
46 |
7.45 |
16 |
Nose-leaf primordium; pinna and tragus form; forelimb digital condensations, uropatagium primordium. |
50 |
8.66 |
17 |
Tongue protruding; cervical flexure straightens; hindlimb interdigit tissue receding; eyes begin to close. |
54 |
9.15 |
(Image: Creteko & Behringer)
Stage |
Key features |
Age |
Crown-rump length |
18 |
Free thumb; head and body smoother, rounder; eyes half-closed; postaxial flexure at wrist; calcar. |
60 |
12.35 |
20 |
Distal forelimbs overlap over face; head larger; eyelids cover pigmented retina; claw primordia form. |
70 |
16.35 |
22 |
Prominent, triangular nose-leaf; eyelids reopening; wing membranes corrugated; claws pigmented, hooked. |
80 |
20.02 |
24 |
Fetal period commences; eyes completely open; face and nose-leaf pigmenting. |
90 |
21.13 |
The developmental stages overview shown below is based upon Carollia perspicillata the short-tailed fruit bat (table modified from Cretekos etal, 2005).
Stage |
Key features |
Somites |
Age |
Uterus diameter |
Crown-rump length |
Mass |
12 |
Forelimb buds form; tail bud forms; caudal neuropore closes; 3 pharyngeal arches. |
21-29 |
40 |
5.75 |
3.4 |
4.3 |
14 |
Retinal pigment; nasal pits; end of somitogenesis; propatagium and plagiopatagium primordia; hindlimb AER. |
36-40 |
44 |
6.95 |
5.35 |
24.6 |
15 |
Hand plate and footplate form; lens vesicle; auditory hillocks; premaxillary centers. |
46 |
8.65 |
7.45 |
56 |
|
16 |
Nose-leaf primordium; pinna and tragus form; forelimb digital condensations, uropatagium primordium. |
50 |
12.06 |
8.66 |
110 |
|
17 |
Tongue protruding; cervical flexure straightens; hindlimb interdigit tissue receding; eyes begin to close. |
54 |
13.45 |
9.15 |
114 |
|
18 |
Free thumb; head and body smoother, rounder; eyes half-closed; postaxial flexure at wrist; calcar. |
60 |
16.32 |
12.35 |
278 |
|
20 |
Distal forelimbs overlap over face; head larger; eyelids cover pigmented retina; claw primordia form. |
70 |
20.0 |
16.35 |
617 |
|
22 |
Prominent, triangular nose-leaf; eyelids reopening; wing membranes corrugated; claws pigmented, hooked. |
80 |
23.03 |
20.02 |
1527 |
|
24 |
Fetal period commences; eyes completely open; face and nose-leaf pigmenting. |
90 |
23.53 |
21.13 |
2097 |
(Values are mean n= 2-6, +/- standard deviation, original table contains more detailed data)
University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity - Order Chiroptera
The University of Texas, Department of Molecular Genetics Richard R. Behringer Lab
Developmental Dynamics Poster of Bat Development
The University Queensland, Vision Touch and Hearing Research Centre, Prof Jack Pettigrew | Megabat | Molecular Phylogeny of Bats in Disarray
Bat Societies: Bat Conservation International | Australasian Bat Society
Note: The dynamic nature of the web means that some Links over time change, it the above links no longer function search the web using the first bold term.
Links: Journals | Online Textbooks | Search Textbooks | PubMed | Search PubMed | Glossary
Articles
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Search Jan2006 "Chiroptera development" 303 reference articles of which 20 were reviews.
Search PubMed: term=Chiroptera+development
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