Skip to main content Site search Researcher Search close CLOSE search menu グローバルナビゲーション（英語） About Message from the President Operations and future plans History Facts and Figures Awards and honors University profile Living in Kyoto Public relations Employment Human rights Gender equality Health, safety, and environment Kyoto University from a Global Perspective Study at KyotoU Education and admissions Career paths Visa/tuition/scholarships/housing University facilities FAQ Research & Collaborate Research news and departments Policies Collaboration Research support and scholarships Careers Visa/Housing/Daily Life About Research compliance & ethics Global KyotoU International strategy Global profile Global partners International risk & crisis management Global University Social Responsibility KyotoU International Concierge and information resources ヘッダー プライマリーリンク（英語） Current Students & Staff Alumni ヘッダー セカンダリーリンク（日本語以外） Events Directions Contact Make a gift Language 日本語 ホーム English Home 中文简体 首页 中文繁体 首頁 한국어 홈페이지 Breadcrumb Home RESEARCH NEWS If the nose fits If the nose fits In other languages 日本語 Variability of bat nasal bone morphology determines ultrasonic localization ターゲット Corporations & Researchers Published on 2024/02/19 Kyoto, Japan -- Japanese horseshoe bats -- or Nihon Kikugakushira -- emit high-amplitude, ultrasonic waves from their nostrils. Several ultrasound-related studies have previously attempted to address the significant regional variability noted in bats' nasal morphologies, without yielding conclusive results. Now, a research team led by Kyoto University has hit on the possibility that this family of bats' nasal bones may unlock the mystery of the intraspecific variations in echolocation. The researchers focused on regional differences in the maximum amplitude of ultrasonic waves  emitted by rhinolophid bats for echolocation,  as well as the functional relationship with morphological variability of the bat cranium. Using 3D models of bat skulls -- based on CT scans from museum specimens of Rhinolophus nippon and Rhinolophus cornutus -- enabled the team to analyze morphometric variations. These specimens are endemic to East Asia, including Jeju Island and the Japanese archipelago. "Our results suggest that the bat's nasal bone site variability may influence speciation, leading to changes in morphology and ultrasonics -- also called the dialect -- of rhinolophids," says first author Yugo Ikeda of the Kyoto University Museum. Previous studies have pointed to the association between the unique dome-shaped nasal bone and ultrasonics among the many traits in the family Rhinolophidae, which emit ultrasound from their noses. However, the smooth structures, such as nasal swellings and brain cases, in the bat's nasal bone make mutational analysis challenging to evaluate using two-dimensional images. The 3D geometric morphometrics has become the standard for evaluating morphological mutations in smooth structures. Utilizing this technology has enabled Ikeda's team to show the relationship between nasal morphological variability and echolocation-related ultrasonic wave patterns among inter-species and in-species. "The unique speciation mechanism of these bats corresponds with their evolutionary adaptation to island environments," concludes Ikeda. Intra- and interspecific differences in the shape of the anterior-middle part of the nasal mass and the posterior-middle part of the nasal mass were detected, suggesting that the morphological variability of the nasal bone differs according to its section. Credit: KyotoU/Yugo Ikeda Researcher(s) 研究者名 Ikeda, Yugo Activity Database on Education and Research Publication information 【DOI】 https://doi.org/10.3161/15081109acc2023.25.2.012 Yugo Ikeda, Hyeji Kang, Yoo-Kyung Kim, Hong-Shik Oh, Masaharu Motokawa (2024). Nasal Bone Variability in two Japanese Horseshoe Bats Revealed by 3-Dimensional Geometric Morphometrics. Acta Chiropterologica, 25(2), 339-349. Related departments & centers The Kyoto University Museum Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share via E-mail Latest research news Published on 2024/05/23 Sub-THz propagation channel simulator for 6th-gen mobile communication systems R&D Published on 2024/05/21 One Essential Step for a Germ Cell, One Giant Leap for the Future of Reproductive Medicine Published on 2024/05/21 Probing small molecule-RNA interactions by looking through the FOREST Published on 2024/05/20 Revealing the Conflict Mechanism between Cognition and Emotion: Discovery of Top-Down Signals Regulating Depression More research news Social media directory 〒606-8501 Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto JAPAN Tel: 075-753-7531 フッター プライマリーリンク Publications Careers Directions フッター セカンダリーリンク Site map Privacy policy Site Policy フッター スペシャルリンク Safety Confirmation System Staff portal (in Japanese) Copyright © Kyoto University. All Rights Reserved. Scroll to top