Search for: All records

Nasal turbinals, scrolled thin bones of the nasal cavity, increase surface area for conditioning inspired air or for olfaction in mammals. To assess function in Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown Bat), we quantify surface area of respiratory and olfactory turbinals from birth to adult size, using data from microCT scans before and after iodine staining. Surface area of each turbinal is significantly correlated with postnatal age and cranial length. The surface area of the maxilloturbinal and first ethmoturbinal (ET I) grows faster, relative to skull size, than surface area of caudal ethmoturbinals or the frontoturbinal. Histological examination of selected specimens reveals ET I grows disproportionately more presumptive respiratory mucosa than olfactory mucosa, supporting the hypothesis that ET I has a dual function. Lastly, we find that distribution of olfactory mucosa in the caudal nasal cavity diminishes with age. Our findings suggest a reduction in olfactory function in E. fuscus, perhaps due to a diminished role in food acquisition by this aerial insectivore.