Mormoopidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
text
2019
2019-10-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats
424
443
book chapter
99508
10.5281/zenodo.6419781
37ddff76-af79-4681-a698-fc8f6a58bc6c
978-84-16728-19-0
6419781
8.
Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat
Pteronotus personatus
French:
Ptéronote masqué
/
German:
Kleine \WWagnerSchnurrbartfledermaus
/
Spanish:
Pteronotus de Wagner
Other common names:
Lesser Mustached Bat
Taxonomy.
Chilonycteris personata Wagner, 1843
,
“
Mato grosso
[sic],”
Brazil
. Restricted byJ. A. Wagner in 1847 to “St. Vincente [=
Sao Vicente
] in der Provinz
Mato grosso
[sic],”
Brazil
.
J. D. Smith in 1972 recognized two subspecies of
P. personatus
: P.
p. personatus
and P.
p. psilotis
. Molecular and morphometric studies have shown that
P. personatus
represents a species complex, supporting elevation of
psilotis
to a distinct species. Hence,
P. personatus
sensu stricto
occurs in South America; its distribution possibly extends northward to
Costa Rica
at the border with
Nicaragua
, but phylogenetic status of the Central American and Colombian populations has not been assessed. Fossil records of
P. personatus
are reported from
Tobago Island
. Monotypic.
Distribution.
From SW
Nicaragua
S through
Costa Rica
and
Panama
to NE & C
Brazil
, E
Peru
, and NE
Bolivia
including lowlands of
Colombia
and
Venezuela
, the Guianas, and
Trinidad
I.
Descriptive notes.
Head-body c.45-55 mm, tail 16-21 mm, ear 12-19 mm, hindfoot 8:5—-12 mm, forearm 43-48 mm; weight 6-5-10 g. Wagner’s Lesser Mustached Batis easily distinguished from other mormoopids occurring in sympatry based on small size and hair-covered back. Dorsal pelage varies from dark brown to reddish brown and ocherous. Ventral pelage is paler than on back and head. Ears are pointed, connected by two low ridges that meet on top of muzzle and form prominent rostral tubercle. Labionasal plate is simple, with typically smooth margin above nostrils. Skull is relatively flat in profile, with ovoid braincase. Condylo-basal lengths are 13-5-15 mm. Rostral breadth is usually equal to length of maxillary tooth row. Infraorbital foramen is located directly above anterior one-half of second upper molar. Lower incisors are reduced, inner pair is distinctly trilobed, and outer pair is weakly trilobed. There is non-linear variation in cranial size throughout the distribution, with individuals from
Costa Rica
,
Panama
, and
Colombia
averaging larger than individuals from
Venezuela
and
Trinidad Island
, and individuals from
Brazil
increasing in size again.
Habitat.
Tropical dry forests, rainforests, and gallery forests. Wagner’s Lesser Mustached Bat also occurs in areas of humid subtropical forest in
Peru
. Its occurrence is probably restricted to sites that provide specific roosting requirements.
Food and Feeding.
Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat feeds on insects, but there is no specific information available on prey itemsin its diet.
Breeding.
Two pregnant Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bats were reported in May from
Venezuela
.
Activity patterns.
Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat is most commonly reported foraging over water bodies or in dense vegetation near streams. Echolocation calls during search phase consist of short CF-FM pulses with c.5 milliseconds. Second harmonic is most intense, starting with initial CF component at ¢.80 kHz, followed by downward FM sweep, and ending in short CF component at ¢.65 kHz.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat has been reported roosting in hot caves in association with other mormoopids, particularly the Big Naked-backed Bat (
P. gymnonotus
).
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.
Bibliography.
Arias-Aguilar et al. (2018), Bernard et al. (2011), Bowles et al. (1979), Davalos (2006), Eshelman & Morgan (1985), GBIF Secretariat (2017), Goodwin & Greenhall (1961), Ibanez & Ochoa (1989), Montes et al. (2012), Ochoa & Ibanez (1985), Pavan & Marroig (2016), Rocha et al. (2011), Simmons & Conway (2001), Smith (1972), de la Torre & Medellin (2010), Wagner (1847).