Phenetic Analyses of the Bat Subfamily Stenodermatinae (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

The 64 species of stenodermatine bats were analyzed phenetically under the common-part-removed transformation of Wood (1983). Two clustering techniques, two ordination techniques, and a minimum-spanning tree were employed to assess patterns of overall similarity among species. Phenetic relationships within and among genera were discussed, and these relationships were compared to the phylogenetic classification proposed by Owen (1987a). Most of the 17 recognized genera were shown to be phenetically distinct. Of the two that were not, one (Chiroderma) was shown by Owen (1987a) to be well defined and supported phylogenetically, whereas the other (Vampyressa) may be polyphyletic. Phenetic relationships among stenodermatine bats generally do not reflect hypothesized phylogenetic relationships, particularly at higher taxonomic levels, indicating a considerable degree of parallel or convergent evolution within the subfamily.