Division of care or hormonal alterations? Report on male lactation in Sturnira lilium (Phyllostomidae) in the Atlantic Forest of Southern Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2023.e91229Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Lactating male, Mammary gland, Parental careAbstract
There are no morphophysiological barriers to the development of mammary glands in males, however,
the fact that they do not breastfeed their offspring is intriguing and has raised numerous questions for a long time. We report the first record of male lactation in the species of Sturnira lilium for an individual captured in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The individual presented the same external morphological characteristics found
in lactating females. We cannot conclude that male breastfeeding is a common species feature. The effect of
phytoestrogens and pesticides on bat populations needs more deep investigations, as well as into the social
behavior of S. lilium.
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