Evaluación de la variabilidad de tamaño corporal según la regla de Bergmann en Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy, 1810) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Abstract

Bergmann's rule is a biogeographical pattern that postulates that the body size of homeothermic animals increases in cold climates and decreases in warm climates. This rule has been scarcely studied in bats. In this context, this research examined the variation in body size of Desmodus rotundus (common vampire bat) in Colombia to determine whether it follows this pattern. A total of 1076 specimens from mammalogy collections in the country were analyzed. Morphometric measurements of the forearm and thumb were taken and correlated with variables such as altitude, temperature, and precipitation. The methodology included the selection and measurement of bats, the collection of climatic and spatial data, and the statistical analysis of the relationships between body size and environmental conditions. The results showed a significant correlation between forearm size and factors such as temperature and altitude, suggesting that D. rotundus follows a pattern consistent with Bergmann's rule. This study contributes to the understanding of the biology of D. rotundus and provides a basis for future research on the influence of climatic and geographical conditions on its distribution and adaptation.