Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

bstract
Fruit bats are megachiroptera, which are widely distributed in Africa. They feed mainly on fruits, and are vectors for diseases. The anatomy of the cranium and dentition of the fruit bat is vital in foraging and mastication, and ultimately in the fruit bat’s survival. Studies on the cranio-dental morphology and morphometry of the fruit bat are scarce. The present study evaluated the cranio-dental morphology and morphometry of the Franquet’s epauletted fruit bat (Epomops franqueti). Fifteen E. franqueti were used for the study: five adult males, five adult females and five juveniles. They were captured from their natural habitat and acclimatized at the Anatomy Animal House, University of Ibadan, and were provided with fruits and portable water all through the study. They were euthanized using ketamine hydrochloride injection (25 mg/kg body weight) administered intramuscularly on the medial side of the thigh muscle. The weight of the skulls and mandibles were measured using a weighing balance, while the length of the skull and mandible, teeth height and diameter were measured using a vernier caliper and a flexible plastic meter rule. Results showed that the weight of the male and female adult skulls and mandibles as well as the length of the skull and mandible of both sexes were significantly (p < 0.05) different. The adult male E. franqueti had a significantly (p < 0.05) longer skull length (60.20 ± 0.23 mm) than the females (52.30 ± 0.10 mm). However, both the adult male and female E. franqueti had an almost equal dimension of the maxilla bearing teeth which was not significantly (p > 0.05) different (male – 20.00 ± 0.20 mm; female – 19.20 ± 1.8 mm). Though diet solely does not determine the pattern of bat dentition, the present study indicated that the dentition in E. franqueti was phylogenetically related, adapted to their diet as seen in other chiropteran species.

Keywords: Fruit bat; Epomops franqueti; Cranio-dental morphology and morphometry; Mandible; Maxilla; Sexual dimorphism.

How to cite this article:
Ekeolu OK and Asenuga ER (2026). Cranio-dental morphology and morphometry of the Franquet’s epauletted fruit bat (Epomops franqueti). Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 16(1): 1492 – 1501.

*Correspondence: E-mail: oyetunde.ekeolu@uniben.edu.ng Phone: +2348054063270