Morphometric Variation, Measurement Error, And Fluctuating Asymmetry in the Red Fig-Eating Bat (Stenoderma Rufum)‪.‬

ABSTRACT. -- Morphometric data were collected from 174 specimens of the red fig-eating bat (Stenoderma rufum) from the Tabonuco Rain Forest of Puerto Rico. Specimens were grouped by age and sex, and secondary sexual dimorphism was examined for 19 cranial and dental characters using univariate and multivariate techniques. Adult females were larger than adult males for 18 characters, whereas juvenile females were larger than juvenile males for 17 characters. For each specimen, measurement error was assessed using three non-consecutive measurements for each of the 19 characters. Results showed no detectable measurement effects. Additionally, eight paired measurements of the right and left sides were made for each specimen, and analyzed quantitatively for asymmetry. After correcting for directional asymmetry and antisymmetry, one character differed significantly in the amount of fluctuating asymmetry present between sexes. Key words: fluctuating asymmetry; morphometrics; Stenoderma; sexual dimorphism; Chiroptera. **********