Species New to Science: Phyllostomidae

Showing posts with label Phyllostomidae. Show all posts

Monday, March 4, 2024

[Mammalogy • 2024] Vampyressa villai • A New Mexican endemic Species of Yellow-eared Bat in the Genus Vampyressa (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae)

Vampyressa villai

Garbino, Hernández-Canchola, León-Paniagua & Tavares, 2024

DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyae001

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Abstract

Bats from the genus Vampyressa Thomas, 1900 are known from a relatively small number of individuals in Mexico. Through recent collecting efforts in southwestern Mexico, we detected several previously unknown populations of Vampyressa, which appeared to represent a lineage independent from but closely related to V. thyone. Here, we describe this lineage as a new species of the genus Vampyressa from the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. The new species is currently known from at least 8 collected specimens and 3 released individuals from 8 localities, and can be differentiated from V. pusilla and V. thyone based on pelage and skull characters, size, mitochondrial Cytochrome b, and nuclear Recombination-activating gene 2 sequence data. The new species has been captured mainly in the lowlands but occurs along a wide altitudinal range from 150 to 2,200 m above sea level. Most of the records of the new species are from west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which evidences a new case of a phylogenetic break at this biogeographic barrier. The genus Vampyressa now includes 6 species, and Mexico expands its position as the country with the largest number of endemic bats in the Neotropics, totaling 20 endemics.

Chiroptera, Cytochrome b, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, systematics, taxonomy, Vampyressina, Vampyressa thyone

Portraits of Vampyressa villai (left, MZFC-M 16012), V. thyone (middle, ROM F63103), and V. pusilla (right, MZUFV 5063).
Note the well-marked whitish hairs on the upper lip and on the chin in V. villai.

Vampyressa villai

Guilherme S. T. Garbino, Giovani Hernández-Canchola, Livia León-Paniagua and Valéria da C. Tavares. 2024. A New Mexican endemic Species of Yellow-eared Bat in the Genus Vampyressa (Phyllostomidae, Stenodermatinae). Journal of Mammalogy. gyae001. DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyae001

Researchgate.net/publication/378655364_A_new_Mexican_endemic_species_of_the_genus_Vampyressa

twitter.com/GGarbino/status/1763649446888525921

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Resumen: Los murciélagos Vampyressa Thomas, 1900 son conocidos por un número relativamente pequeño de individuos en México. Por medio de recientes esfuerzos de colecta en el suroeste de México detectamos varias poblaciones de Vampyressa previamente desconocidas que parecían representar un linaje independiente pero estrechamente relacionado a V. thyone. En este trabajo, describimos dicho linaje como una nueva especie del género Vampyressa para los estados mexicanos de Guerrero y Oaxaca. Actualmente esta nueva especie es conocida por al menos 8 ejemplares colectados y 3 individuos liberados de 8 localidades, y se puede diferenciar de V. pusilla y V. thyone por los caracteres del pelaje y del cráneo, por el tamaño y por las secuencias del gen mitocondrial citocromo b y del gen nuclear activador de la recombinación 2. La nueva especie ha sido capturada principalmente en tierras bajas, pero se distribuye a lo largo de un amplio rango altitudinal, de 150 a 2,200 metros sobre el nivel del mar. La mayoría de los registros de la nueva especie se encuentran al oeste del Istmo de Tehuantepec, lo que evidencia un nuevo caso de ruptura filogenética en esta barrera biogeográfica. El género Vampyressa ahora incluye 6 especies y México amplía así su posición como el país con la mayor cantidad de murciélagos endémicos del neotrópico, totalizando 20 especies endémicas.

Chiroptera, citocromo b, Istmo de Tehuantepec, Sistemática, Taxonomía, Vampyressina, Vampyressa thyone

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

[Mammalogy • 2023] Sturnira boadai • On the Taxonomic Identity of Sturnira nana Gardner & O'Neil, 1971 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), from Ecuador, with the Description of a New Species of Sturnira

Sturnira boadai

Yánez-Fernández, Marchán-Rivadeneira, Velazco, Burneo, Tinoco & Camacho, 2023

DOI: 10.1206/4001.1

URI: hdl.handle.net/2246/7330

twitter.com/PMVelazco

Abstract

The lesser yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira nana, is a member of the most diverse genus of the New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae). This species was considered endemic to Peru until 2009 when researchers captured a series of individuals in the Cordillera del Cóndor of southeastern Ecuador and identified them as S. nana. To assess the taxonomic status of this Ecuadorian population in relation to S. nana from Peru, we analyzed cytochrome b gene sequences and craniodental measurement data. In addition, we used principal component analysis to elucidate differences in climatic niches. Our analyses suggest that populations currently identified as S. nana from Ecuador and Peru are genetically, morphologically, and ecologically divergent. Herein, we formally describe the population of small Sturnira from Ecuador as a new species.

Keywords: Sturnira nana, Classification, Phyllostomidae, Ecuador, Classification, Bats

Sturnira boadai

Viviana Yánez-Fernández, M. Raquel Marchán-Rivadeneira, Paúl M. Velazco, Santiago F. Burneo, Nicolás Tinoco and M. Alejandra Camacho. 2023. On the Taxonomic Identity of Sturnira nana Gardner and O'Neil, 1971 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), from Ecuador, with the Description of a New Species of Sturnira. American Museum Novitates. (4001); 1-28. DOI: 10.1206/4001.1 URI: hdl.handle.net/2246/7330

Researchgate.net/publication/374824105_the_Taxonomic_Identity_of_Sturnira_nana_from_Ecuador

twitter.com/PMVelazco/status/1715429243650269491

Monday, November 16, 2020

[Mammalogy • 2020] The Masked Seducers: Lek Courtship Behavior in the Wrinkle-faced Bat Centurio senex (Phyllostomidae)

Centurio senex Gray, 1842

in Rodríguez-Herrera, Sánchez-Calderón, Madrigal-Elizondo, et al., 2020.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241063

Abstract

Centurio senex is an iconic bat characterized by a facial morphology deviating far from all other New World Leaf Nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae). The species has a bizarrely wrinkled face and lacks the characteristic nose leaf. Throughout its distribution from Mexico to Northern South America the species is most of the time rarely captured and only scarce information on its behavior and natural history is available. Centurio senex is frugivorous and one of the few bats documented to consume also hard seeds. Interestingly, the species shows a distinct sexual dimorphism: Adult males have more pronounced facial wrinkles than females and a fold of skin under the chin that can be raised in style of a face mask. We report the first observations on echolocation and mating behavior of Centurio senex, including synchronized audio and video recordings from an aggregation of males in Costa Rica. Over a period of 6 weeks we located a total of 53 perches, where during the first half of the night males were hanging with raised facial masks at a mean height of 2.35 m. Most of the time, the males moved just their wing tips, and spontaneously vocalized in the ultrasound range. Approaches of other individuals resulted in the perching male beating its wings and emitting a very loud, low frequency whistling call. Following such an encounter we recorded a copulation event. The observed aggregation of adult C. senex males is consistent with lek courtship, a behavior described from only few other bat species.

Fig 5. Field photographs
a) Centurio senex male with raised facial mask; b) male with lowered facial mask;
c) perching male being approached by another individual; d) detail of same perching male during the approach, just before emitting a whistle sequence.

Conclusion:

Our study summarizes the first behavioral data from a lek of Centurio senex males, observed over a period of almost 6 weeks at a Costa Rican highland forest site. The exclusively male bats used stable perches and showed distinct behavioral patterns including an acoustic signaling with stereotypical elements that might serve to attract females and perhaps also to signal male quality. Perching animals were regularly approached by other individuals and in one case such an encounter was followed by a copulation. Males often spent several hours on the perch without leaving and abandoned it only after midnight. This endurance left males with only half of the night time for foraging, so the time spent on the perch is a significant energetic investment and could be a honest signal for male quality. Our study has some obvious shortcomings. While we were extremely lucky to obtain the first observations on the behavior of this interesting species we deliberately refrained from mist-netting bats in order not to scare the animals away from our study site. The downside of this cautious approach is, however, that we still lack essential data, such as the sex ratio at the site, the body condition of individual males or the identity of all visitors. In this context, it would also be highly interesting to assess potential olfactory signals of the perching males, perhaps in the facial region. Hopefully, the encounter of a future lek of Centurio senex will allow us to close some of the current gaps in the knowledge on the behavior of one of the most iconic bats of the Neotropics.

Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera, Ricardo Sánchez-Calderón, Victor Madrigal-Elizondo, Paulina Rodríguez, Jairo Villalobos, Esteban Hernández, Daniel Zamora-Mejías, Gloria Gessinger and Marco Tschapka. 2020. The Masked Seducers: Lek Courtship Behavior in the Wrinkle-faced Bat Centurio senex (Phyllostomidae). PLoS ONE. 15(11): e0241063. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241063

Wrinkle-faced male bats lower face masks to copulate

The first behavioral observations of wrinkle-faced bats in their natural habitat reveal that this elusive species uses the rarest form of bat courtship behavior, according to a new study.

sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201111153113.htm

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

[Botany • 2019] Ipomoea vespertilia (Convolvulaceae) • A New Species endemic to Northeast Brazil; revealed by Pollinator Observation

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Buril

in Santos, Delgado Junior, ... et Buril, 2019.

DOI: 10.1007/s12228-018-09565-6

Researchgate.net/publication/331568490

Abstract

A new and endangered species, endemic to dry forests of the Caatinga Domain in Northeast Brazil is described and illustrated. Ipomoea vespertilia has been misidentified in herbaria as I. marcellia, to which it appears to be closely related. However, it differs consistently from that species in multiple morphological characters and the timing of anthesis.

Keywords: Anthesis, biodiversity, Brazilian flora, cytotaxonomy, integrative taxonomy

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Burila.
A. Habit. B. Representative leaf (adaxial surface). C. Flower bud. D. Flower with tubular corolla. E. Outer sepal. F. Inner sepal. G. Corolla and representative stamens. H. Ovary. I. Pistil. J. Fruit. K. Seed. (Drawn from the holotype.).

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Buril.
A. Corolla, lateral view. B. Corolla, interplicae area and inserted stamens. C. Inflorescence.

Ipomoea vespertilia D. Santos, G. C. Delgado-Junior & Buril, sp. nov.

Etymology.—The specific epithet “vespertilia” is a reference to the main floral visitors, bats (Phyllostomidae).

Francisco Diego Sousa Santos, Geadelande Carolino Delgado Junior, Mariana Báez, Andrea Pedrosa-Harand, Joel Araújo Queiroz, Zelma Glebya Maciel Quirino, Isabel Cristina Machado and Maria Teresa Buril. 2019. Ipomoea vespertilia (Convolvulaceae), A New Species revealed by Pollinator Observation. Brittonia. 71, 190–195. DOI: 10.1007/s12228-018-09565-6

Researchgate.net/publication/331568490_Ipomoea_vespertilia_a_new_species_revealed_by_pollinator_observation

Resumo: É descrita uma nova espécie ameaçada de extinção e endêmica do domínio da Caatinga, Nordeste do Brasil. Ipomoea vespertilia estava incorretamente identificada nos herbários como I. marcellia, com a qual parece ser proximamente relacionada. No entanto, além de diferenças morfológicas consistentes, é reconhecida por um período de antese distinto.

Monday, September 7, 2020

[Mammalogy • 2020] Systematics of Big-eyed Bats, Genus Chiroderma Peters, 1860 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Chiroderma sp.

in Garbino, Lim & Tavares, 2020.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4846.1.1

Abstract

We present a revision of the Neotropical bat genus Chiroderma, commonly known as big-eyed bats. Although species of Chiroderma have a wide distribution from western México to southern Brazil, species limits within Chiroderma are not clearly defined, as attested by identification errors in the literature, and there is no comprehensive revision of the genus that includes morphological and molecular data. Our review is based on phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (COI and CYTB) and two nuclear (RAG2 and DBY) genes, coalescence analyses of mitochondrial genes, and morphological analyses including type specimens of all named taxa. We recognize seven species in three clades: the first clade includes (1) C. scopaeum Handley, 1966, endemic to western México and previously considered a subspecies of C. salvini; and (2) C. salvini Dobson, 1878, a taxon associated with montane forests, distributed from México to Bolivia; the second clade includes (3) C. improvisum Baker and Genoways, 1976, endemic to the Lesser Antilles, and (4) C. villosum Peters, 1860, widely distributed on the continental mainland and polytypic, with subspecies C. v. villosum and C. v. jesupi; and the third clade includes (5) the polytypic C. doriae Thomas, 1891, with C. d. doriae distributed in eastern Brazil and Paraguay, and C. d. vizottoi, occurring in northeastern Brazil; (6) C. trinitatum Goodwin, 1958, distributed from Trinidad to Amazonia; and (7) C. gorgasi Handley, 1960, distributed from Honduras to trans-Andean South America, previously considered a subspecies of C. trinitatum.

Keywords: Mammalia, Chiroderma gorgasi, Chiroderma scopaeum, species delimitation, taxonomy, Vampyressina

Guilherme S. T. Garbino, Burton K. Lim and Valéria Da C. Tavares. 2020. Systematics of Big-eyed Bats, Genus Chiroderma Peters, 1860 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Zootaxa. 4846(1); 1-93. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4846.1.1

Monday, April 24, 2017

[Mammalogy • 2017] Sturnira adrianae • A New Polytypic Species of Yellow-shouldered Bats, Genus Sturnira (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), from the Andean and Coastal Mountain Systems of Venezuela and Colombia

Sturnira adrianae adrianae

Molinari, Bustos, Burneo, Camacho, Moreno & Fermin, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4243.1.3

Photo: Jesús Molinari news.mongabay.com

Abstract

Sturnira is the most speciose genus of New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae). We name Sturnira adrianae, new species. This taxon is born polytypic, divided into a larger subspecies (S. a. adrianae) widespread in the mountains of northern and western Venezuela, and northern Colombia, and a smaller subspecies (S. a. caripana) endemic to the mountains of northeastern Venezuela. The new species inhabits evergreen, deciduous, and cloud forests at mainly medium (1000–2000 m) elevations. It has long been confused with S. ludovici, but it is more closely related to S. oporaphilum. It can be distinguished from other species of Sturnira by genetic data, and based on discrete and continuously varying characters. Within the genus, the new species belongs to a clade that also includes S. oporaphilum, S. ludovici, S. hondurensis, and S. burtonlimi. The larger new subspecies is the largest member of this clade. The two new subspecies are the most sexually dimorphic members of this clade. The smaller new subspecies is restricted to small mountain systems undergoing severe deforestation processes, therefore can be assigned to the Vulnerable (VU) conservation category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Keywords: Mammalia, Andes, evolutionary species concept, geographic variation, morphometrics, sexual dimorphism

Sturnira adrianae adrianae, the larger and more widespread of the newly described Sturnira adrianae subspecies.

Photo: Jesús Molinari

• Sturnira adrianae new species

• Sturnira adrianae adrianae new subspecies

Adriana’s Yellow-shouldered Bat

Murciélago de Charreteras de Adriana

Diagnosis. Epaulettes (yellow shoulders) present. Lower molars with continuous lingual cusps. All four lower incisors well developed, bilobed. Upper middle incisor long, bilobed, pointed, strikingly protrudent, tip laterally diverging. Lower canine long, narrow. Upper premolars broad and long in labial view. Molars with no gaps between them. Zygomatic arch complete, not bowed outwards. Occiput low. Preorbital frontal ridges well developed. Foramen ovale touching the caudal pterygoid process.

Distribution. Known from all the Andean and coastal mountain systems of Venezuela, except those east of the Unare Depression. Presumably, also distributed throughout the Cordillera Oriental in Colombia .....

Etymology. The epithet adrianae, a feminine noun in the genitive case, is dedicated to the memory of the Colombian-Venezuelan bat biologist, Adriana Ruiz, 1971–2012. Adriana was a charismatic, imaginative, and dedicated colleague. She published 14 papers and book chapters. Owing to her untimely departure, much of her most valuable research was left unpublished. Adriana had a particularly keen interest in species of Sturnira. We are privileged to name after her a member of the genus wandering in the environments in which she so joyfully conducted much of her field work.

• Sturnira adrianae caripana new subspecies

Caripe Yellow-shouldered Bat

Murciélago de Charreteras de Caripe

Diagnosis. Identical to that of S. a. adrianae, except for: 1) upper premolars narrower and shorter in labial view; 2) preorbital frontal ridges little developed; 3) foramen ovale not touching the caudal pterygoid process.

Distribution (Fig. 1). Known from four localities in the Turimiquire Massiff, and from two localities in the neighboring Paria Peninsula (Appendix). Presumably, endemic to the mountain ranges of northeastern Venezuela, east of the Unare Depression.

Etymology. The epithet caripana [Carip(e) + -ana], a feminine adjectival toponym, is derived from Caripe, a town near the type locality made known to science in the book “Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Years 1799–1804”, of the famous German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.

Jesús Molinari, Xiomar E. Bustos, Santiago F. Burneo, M. A. Camacho, S. A. Moreno & Gustavo Fermin. 2017. A New Polytypic Species of Yellow-shouldered Bats, Genus Sturnira (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), from the Andean and Coastal Mountain Systems of Venezuela and Colombia. Zootaxa. 4243(1); 75–96. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4243.1.3

New leaf-nosed bat uncovered amidst burning habitat in Venezuela https://news.mongabay.com/2017/04/new-leaf-nosed-bat-uncovered-amidst-burning-habitat-in-venezuela via @mongabay

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

[Mammalogy • 2016] A Taxonomic Revision of the Yasuni Round-eared Bat, Lophostoma yasuni (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Lophostoma carrikeri Allen, 1910

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4114.3.2

Abstract

The Yasuni Round-eared bat, Lophostoma yasuni, was described in 2004 by morphological analysis of the holotype, the only specimen attributed to this taxon to date. A molecular analysis using cytochrome-b sequences and a new morphological analysis that includes the holotype of L. yasuni and two specimens of L. carrikeri from near the type locality of L. yasuni were carried out. The new molecular and morphological evidence places L. yasuni within the clade of L. carrikeri. We propose that L. yasuni should therefore be considered as a synonym of L. carrikeri. An emended diagnosis for L. carrikeri extending ranges of craniodental measurements for this species is presented.

Keywords: Mammalia, Ecuador, synonymy, systematics, taxonomy, Yasuni National Park

M. Alejandra Camacho, Daniel Chávez and Santiago F. Burneo. 2016. A Taxonomic Revision of the Yasuni Round-eared bat, Lophostoma yasuni (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae).
Zootaxa. 4114(3); DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4114.3.2

Fonseca, R.M. and Pinto, C.M. 2004. A new Lophostoma (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Phyllostominae) from the Amazonia of Ecuador. Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University, 242, 1–9.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

[Mammalogy • 2014] Systematics of Vampyressa melissa Thomas, 1926 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), with Description of Two New Species of Vampyressa; V. sinchi & V. elisabethae

Vampyressa sinchi

Tavares, Gardner, Ramírez-Chaves and Velazco, 2014

FIG. 10. Photograph of an adult female Vampyressa sinchi [Quechuan Yellow-eared Bat] (MHNUC 1514) captured at San Juan de Villalobos, Caquetá River basin, eastern Colombian slopes of the Eastern Cordillera, collected at 1620 m.

Photograph by Ofelia Mejía-Egas.

Abstract

Vampyressa melissa is a poorly known phyllostomid bat listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Since its description in 1926, fewer than 40 V. melissa have been reported in the literature, and less than half of these may have been correctly identified. During revisionary studies of Vampyressa, we uncovered two previously unrecognized species related to V. melissa, all associated with higher elevation habitats (>1400 m), one from the Andes of Colombia (Vampyressa sinchi, new species) and the other from western Panama (Vampyressa elisabethae, new species) revealing that V. melissa, as traditionally defined, is a composite of at least three species. In this paper, we provide a restricted diagnosis for the genus Vampyressa, an emended diagnosis of V. melissa, and descriptions of the two new species. The separation of these frugivorous bats, previously identified as V. melissa, into three isolated upper-elevation species, each having restricted distributions further highlights their fragile conservation status.

Vampyressa sinchi, new species

Quechuan Yellow-eared Bat

Distribution: Know only from the type series from the eastern slope of the Central Cordillera (Llorente) and eastern slopes of the Eastern Cordillera (San Juan de Villalobos and Parque Nacional Cueva de los Guácharos) of the Andes in Colombia (fig. 3).

Etymology: A Quechuan word, sinchi conveys the meaning “robust and strong.” The name honors the Quechuan people of Colombia (the Ingas), and indicates the robustness of this species, the largest Vampyressa known. The name is to be treated as a noun in apposition.

Vampyressa elisabethae, new species

Elisabeth’s Yellow-eared Bat

Distribution: Know only from provincia de Bocas del Toro, Panama (fig. 3).

Etymology: The name elisabethae honors the legacy of the late Elisabeth Klara Victoria Kalko in the study of the natural history, ecology, conservation, vocal recognition, and behavior of bats.

Tavares, V.C., A.L. Gardner, H.E. Ramírez-Chaves, and P.M. Velazco. 2014. Systematics of Vampyressa melissa Thomas, 1926 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), with Description of Two New Species of Vampyressa. American Museum Novitates. 3813: 1-27.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/27587202/Velazco_publications/2014_Tavares_etal_.pdf

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