<documentid="77D86BCEECBE30F63A431B1DC967E39A"ID-DOI="10.3897/zookeys.1210.128570"ID-ZooBank="9D29FB86-005C-4D6C-AA62-85314A59C419"ID-publisher-id="128570"URI-arpha="32971501-8EA3-5351-B2A6-901D12BAA391"URI-zoobank="http://zoobank.org/9D29FB86-005C-4D6C-AA62-85314A59C419"XM.bibliography_approvedBy="admin"XM.taxonomicNames_approvedBy="admin"article-type="research-article"checkinTime="1724943205869"checkinUser="pensoft"docAuthor="García, Franger J., Ochoa-G, José, Poma-Urey, José L., Miller, Bruce W., Falcão, Fábio C. & del Valle Alvarez, Martín Roberto"docDate="2024"docId="55CE3C92A13E5A4FABF0EFCB4F9CE543"docLanguage="en"docName="ZooKeys 1210: 333-371"docOrigin="ZooKeys 1210"docSource="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/128570/download/xml/"docStyle="DocumentStyle:PensoftTaxPub.0000.journal_article.generic"docStyleName="PensoftTaxPub.0000.journal_article.generic"docTitle="Molossus rufus E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire 1805"docType="treatment"docVersion="3"dtd-version="3.0"lastPageNumber="371"masterDocId="329715018EA35351B2A6901D12BAA391"masterDocTitle="Expanding the knowledge of the bat fauna of the Brazilian Caatinga: new geographical records of molossid bats (Chiroptera, Molossidae) for the Chapada Diamantina region, with taxonomic notes"masterLastPageNumber="371"masterPageNumber="333"pageNumber="333"updateTime="1724947344196"updateUser="admin">
<mods:titleid="D92625FD7C639F6021AC9B6A4CFE9056">Expanding the knowledge of the bat fauna of the Brazilian Caatinga: new geographical records of molossid bats (Chiroptera, Molossidae) for the Chapada Diamantina region, with taxonomic notes</mods:title>
<mods:affiliationid="6133E9C75D08120A62A9B46DDCB42059">Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil</mods:affiliation>
<mods:affiliationid="4E68B3015D457C6ACD266C1CF358F941">Centro de Estudios en Zoología Aplicada (CEZA), Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnología, Universidad de Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela</mods:affiliation>
<mods:affiliationid="3CF8696A918AFFF06AB71D75B2B2EA1C">Área de Zoología, Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado de la Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, Bolivia</mods:affiliation>
<mods:affiliationid="23128719A6F6CB53887BD6F8D6EB92D9">Neotropical Bat Acoustic and Risk Assessments, 11384 Alpine Rd., Canadian Lakes, MI 49346, USA</mods:affiliation>
<mods:affiliationid="8FDF9BA61D5BC6833422B1F8AFB59A0F">Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil</mods:affiliation>
Dorsal and ventral pelage with dark coloration, with predominantly dusky hue unicolored hairs (Fig.
<figureCitationid="C451E163D78B8B9642C12FB2CC05C14E"captionStart="Figure 11"captionStartId="F11"captionText="Figure 11. A, B Molossus molossus (CMARF 2159) and C, D Molossus rufus (CMARF 2182) A, C dorsal and ventral views of the skull in two species of Molossus collected in the Caatinga, northeastern Brazil B, D individuals of M. molossus and M. rufus photographed in the field (not to scale). Scale bar 5 mm."figureDoi="10.3897/zookeys.1210.128570.figure11"httpUri="https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1123346">11</figureCitation>
. Skull with an inflated rostrum and an elongated braincase (Fig.
<figureCitationid="C81633012E5F51951CED3C68D552CED6"captionStart="Figure 11"captionStartId="F11"captionText="Figure 11. A, B Molossus molossus (CMARF 2159) and C, D Molossus rufus (CMARF 2182) A, C dorsal and ventral views of the skull in two species of Molossus collected in the Caatinga, northeastern Brazil B, D individuals of M. molossus and M. rufus photographed in the field (not to scale). Scale bar 5 mm."figureDoi="10.3897/zookeys.1210.128570.figure11"httpUri="https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1123346">11</figureCitation>
). Mastoid process extending laterally in posterior view. The occipital region has a square shape. Lambdoidal crests are highly developed and inclined. Sagittal crests are present and well-developed, with a more pronounced development in males. Infraorbital foramen opens laterally in frontal view. Basioccipital pits moderately depth. Rostrum with triangular shape in frontal view. Upper incisors are short and spatulated, with convergent tips. Presence of a pair of bilobed lower incisors. Some skull measurements are shown in Table
<tableCitationid="2C886448061103B903216A1B3893D065"captionStart="Table 2"captionStartId="T2"captionText="Table 2. External and cranial measurements for four species of bats of the family Molossidae with confirmed identity and three unidentified morphos. Data based on specimens collected in the Caatinga bioma (Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina region, northeastern Brazil), according to this study (catalog number are indicated) and previous information in literature. Abbreviations are described in the section of materials and methods."httpUri="http://table.plazi.org/id/9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6"tableUuid="9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6">2</tableCitation>
The relatively larger forearm length and skulls, along with the unicolored dorsal and ventral pelage, serve as characteristics to distinguish individuals of
<bibRefCitationid="598A427A481D15412E5791039CDAF094"DOI="10.5252/zoosystema2018v40a18"author="Loureiro LO & Gregorin R & Perini FA"journalOrPublisher="Zoosystema"pagination="425-452"refId="B47"refString="Loureiro LO, Gregorin R, Perini FA (2018 b) Diversity, morphological phylogeny, and distribution of bats of the genus Molossus E. Geoffroy, 1805 (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Brazil. Zoosystema 40: 425–452. https://doi.org/10.5252/zoosystema2018v40a18."title="Diversity, morphological phylogeny, and distribution of bats of the genus Molossus E. Geoffroy, 1805 (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Brazil."volume="40">Loureiro et al. 2018 b</bibRefCitation>
). The short and spatulated upper incisors, with convergent tips, differentiate this species from
<bibRefCitationid="C9AA26DA9B273BE8980C90CDCE51ACE6"DOI="10.5252/zoosystema2018v40a18"author="Loureiro LO & Gregorin R & Perini FA"journalOrPublisher="Zoosystema"pagination="425-452"refId="B47"refString="Loureiro LO, Gregorin R, Perini FA (2018 b) Diversity, morphological phylogeny, and distribution of bats of the genus Molossus E. Geoffroy, 1805 (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Brazil. Zoosystema 40: 425–452. https://doi.org/10.5252/zoosystema2018v40a18."title="Diversity, morphological phylogeny, and distribution of bats of the genus Molossus E. Geoffroy, 1805 (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Brazil."volume="40">Loureiro et al. 2018 b</bibRefCitation>
<taxonomicNameid="49E3571F7001B60932B6DDB883654D14"authority="(Loureiro et al. 2020)"baseAuthorityName="Loureiro"baseAuthorityYear="2020"class="Mammalia"family="Molossidae"genus="Molossus"kingdom="Animalia"order="Chiroptera"phylum="Chordata"rank="species"species="fluminensis">
<bibRefCitationid="F73ADBFF7264C8B42420C259DDB912EF"DOI="10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106690"author="Loureiro"etAl="et al."firstAuthor="Loureiro"refId="B48"refString="Loureiro LO, Engstrom MD, Lim BK (2020) Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provide unprecedented resolution of species boundaries, phylogenetic relationships, and genetic diversity in the mastiff bats (Molossus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 143: 106690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106690"year="2020">Loureiro et al. 2020</bibRefCitation>
)
</taxonomicName>
. Furthermore, a pair of lower incisors and other externally visible characters distinguish
<bibRefCitationid="547DB215D9FB41914C8074B0B98FADC3"author="Eger"editor="Gardner AL"firstAuthor="Eger"journalOrPublisher="Vol. 1. The University of Chicago Press"pagination="399-439"refId="B22"refString="Eger J (2008) The family Molossidae. In: Gardner AL (Ed.) Mammals of South America. Vol. 1. The University of Chicago Press, 399–439."title="The family Molossidae."volumeTitle="Mammals of South America."year="2008">Eger 2008</bibRefCitation>
), which can be confused due to their morphological similarities.
in length. Ventral coloration subtly contrasts with the dorsum, showing pale brown bases. Rostrum broad and convex, with a developed keel. Upper incisors elongated (similar to
) and anteriorly projected. The infraorbital foramen is exposed anteriorly in the female, while in some males, this structure is anteriorly exposed, and in others, it is laterally positioned. Nasal process present. Occipital complex with a triangular shape. Mastoid processes developed (large) and ventrally oriented. Presence of a pair of bilobed lower incisors. Some skull measurements are shown in Table
<tableCitationid="987FCD2857C867A85967E820B759AC0A"captionStart="Table 2"captionStartId="T2"captionText="Table 2. External and cranial measurements for four species of bats of the family Molossidae with confirmed identity and three unidentified morphos. Data based on specimens collected in the Caatinga bioma (Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina region, northeastern Brazil), according to this study (catalog number are indicated) and previous information in literature. Abbreviations are described in the section of materials and methods."httpUri="http://table.plazi.org/id/9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6"tableUuid="9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6">2</tableCitation>
The morphology of these specimens exhibits unique characteristics in the facial morphology (rostrum broad and convex, with a developed keel), distinguishing them from
Rostrum broad and convex, with a developed keel. Dorsal fur is weakly bicolored (hairs with pale brown bases and a broad band of dark chocolate brown in the rest). Hairs at the shoulders
they are present but scarcely visible. Occipital complex with triangular shape. The mastoid process is scarcely developed (short) and ventrally oriented. Presence of a pair of bilobed lower incisors. Some skull measurements are shown in Table
<tableCitationid="12EF375959CC1D1CA6CDA36D884BBB8B"captionStart="Table 2"captionStartId="T2"captionText="Table 2. External and cranial measurements for four species of bats of the family Molossidae with confirmed identity and three unidentified morphos. Data based on specimens collected in the Caatinga bioma (Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina region, northeastern Brazil), according to this study (catalog number are indicated) and previous information in literature. Abbreviations are described in the section of materials and methods."httpUri="http://table.plazi.org/id/9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6"tableUuid="9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6">2</tableCitation>
(see above), the morphology of these specimens exhibits unique characteristics in facial morphology (broad and convex rostrum with a developed keel), distinguishing them from
. Additionally, the uniform, weakly bicolored dorsal pelage, combined with the broad and convex rostrum with a developed keel, differentiates them from
Rostrum narrow, with a slightly undeveloped keel. Dorsal fur is bicolored, with a white basal band and dark chocolate brown color in the rest. Ventral fur contrasts with the dorsum, with hairs showing broad gray bases and pale brown tips. Hairs at the shoulders is
in length. Upper incisors show only the bases (completely worn). Frontal foramen laterally positioned. The nasal process developed. Occipital complex with triangular shape. Mastoid process elongated and ventrally oriented. Basioccipital pits are present but shallow. Presence of a pair of bilobed lower incisors. Some skull measurements are shown in Table
<tableCitationid="95D1EF8295BD6B2E3AB5E98B3CCB85C6"captionStart="Table 2"captionStartId="T2"captionText="Table 2. External and cranial measurements for four species of bats of the family Molossidae with confirmed identity and three unidentified morphos. Data based on specimens collected in the Caatinga bioma (Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina region, northeastern Brazil), according to this study (catalog number are indicated) and previous information in literature. Abbreviations are described in the section of materials and methods."httpUri="http://table.plazi.org/id/9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6"tableUuid="9003904B4ADA3833FAA480718C2943A6">2</tableCitation>
This specimen shows unique characteristics in its facial morphology (narrow rostrum, with poorly developed keel) and in the coloration of the ventral pelage, which contrasts with the dorsum. This morphological and chromatic pattern distinguishes it from other small species of
