Showing papers in "Acta Chiropterologica in 2005"
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TL;DR: There was no correlation between RF and these body size parameters within a sex or age class for any of the species, suggesting that RF is not a reliable honest signal for intraspecific communication that would indicate the quality of a potential mate or competitor.
Abstract: Horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus) use echolocation calls with a prominent part whose frequency is constant over time (CF) and matches the ‘acoustic fovea’ of the bats' hearing system. The present study on European Rhinolophus species investigates whether this CF component contains reliable information on species, sex, age class or quality (size and body condition) of the caller and could therefore have a communicative value. The resting frequencies (RF) were measured from stationary, handheld bats for the species Rhinolophus blasii, R. euryale, R. mehelyi and R. hipposideros (the latter with very low sample size) in Bulgaria, where they occur in sympatry. We recorded calls directly onto a laptop computer and used a specially designed analysis algorithm to achieve high and accurate frequency resolution. After silent periods, individuals ‘tuned in’ to their RFs always from lower frequencies, corroborating the recent finding that frequencies below RF might be used for auditory feedback control as well. R...
100 citations
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TL;DR: The presence of macropterous planthoppers and a large proportion of moths in its diet suggests that T. plicata feeding on windborne migrant insects at high altitude potentially plays an important role in controlling this major crop pest.
Abstract: Insectivorous bats are major predators of nocturnal insects and have the potential to act as biological pest control agents in farmlands. The objective of the present study was to establish the diet of the guano bat, Tadarida plicata. The study was carried out at the Khao Chong Pran Cave, which houses 2.6 million bats, and is surrounded by rice fields. A total of 1,925 faecal pellets were collected from 385 bats during their morning return from January to December 2002. Faecal analysis indicated that T. plicata fed on at least nine insect orders: Homoptera (28.4%), Lepidoptera (20.8), Hemiptera (16.4), Coleoptera (14.4), Diptera (7.0), Hymenoptera (6.6), Odonata (6.0), Orthoptera (0.5) and Psocoptera (0.1). Light traps indicated that Coleoptera (41.2%), Homoptera (25.3), Hemiptera (18.8) and Diptera (12.7) were the most abundant insects in the study area. Homopterans, most of which were white-backed planthopper (Sogatella sp., Delphacidae) had the highest percentage frequency of occurrence in the bats' diet indicating that T. plicata potentially plays an important role in controlling this major crop pest. The presence of macropterous planthoppers and a large proportion of moths in its diet suggests that T. plicata feeds on windborne migrant insects at high altitude. Female bats fed significantly more on lepidopterans and coleopterans and less on damselflies than males. The diet diversity index of lactating females was higher than pregnant females. Diet did not differ significantly between the dry and rainy seasons for either sex.
89 citations
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TL;DR: It is suggested that carnivory is an extreme of animalivory rather than a qualitatively distinct feeding habit among Phyllostominae bats, which fits biomechanical data that indicate that carnivorous bats are bigger and only modestly modified versions of soft-insect specialists.
Abstract: We examined data sets on dietary composition of a rich (15 species) assemblage of animal-eating Neotropical leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae: Phyllostominae) that occur syntopically on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Our aim was to test previously postulated trophic structure of phyllostomines in the light of alternative analytical techniques and new data. The trophic structure of this assemblage, according to new results from Correspondence Analysis, has two main trends of variation: a gradient of increased carnivory (axis 1) and a gradient involving plant and arthropod consumption (axis 2). This rejects previous hypotheses of this guild in which the structure was described as a complex of many independent discrete resources. Although all data sets agree that coleopterans as a group are an important food item for most species, Phyllostominae bats are not typically durophageous; i.e., they lack cranial and dental adaptations for rapid processing of hard-shelled arthropods as found in other bat fami...
69 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the first time radar recorded flight paths and wing-beat pattern of two identified Palaearctic bat species, Nyctalus noctula and Eptesicus serotinus, was presented.
Abstract: This paper presents for the first time radar recorded flight paths and wing-beat pattern of two identified Palaearctic bat species. Simultaneous film recordings confirm the wing-beat pattern reflected by echo signatures. Our results suggest that discrimination of bats and nocturnally migrating birds is usually possible because the recorded bats differed from the regular flapping and pausing phases in passerines' bounding flight as well as from the regular continuous wing-beats of other nocturnal migrants (e.g., waders and waterfowl) by very short and irregularly distributed glides (flap-gliding). Small, medium and large bats may be differentiated according to wing-beat frequency. For the discrimination of the similarly sized Nyctalus noctula and Eptesicus serotinus (both with mean frequencies of 7–7.5 Hz and variation mainly between 6 and 8 Hz) ecological or behavioural features must be included. The lowest rates of flapping (even below 5 flaps per second) occurred because some flaps were prolong...
45 citations
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TL;DR: A combined approach based on the complex use of molecular, morphological and ecological data has shown that the ‘eastern’ group of forms of transpalearctic Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii, deserves a status of distinct species, and conforms to M. petax.
Abstract: A combined approach based on the complex use of molecular, morphological and ecological data has shown that the ‘eastern’ group of forms of transpalearctic Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii (Kuhl, 1817), deserves a status of distinct species, and conforms to M. petax, described by Hollister in 1912 from the Republic of Altai in the south of Western Siberia. In our genetic analysis we used SINEs (short interspersed elements) of nuclear DNA as genetic markers, and by means of Inter-SINE-PCR, have clearly demonstrated a species distinctiveness of M. petax. Our further analysis has also shown, that they considerably differ from M. daubentonii s.str. in skull proportions, dental features, as well as in bacular shape and size. Both species also differ in their ecology and general appearance, especially coloration.
43 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors document a total of 24 microchiropteran species for the small equatorial island nation of Singapore and show that, of these 24 taxa, 15 are still present, another eight species, including all three hipposiderids, have become locally extinct and one other is indeterminate.
Abstract: The historical mammalian literature and recent surveys document a total of 24 microchiropteran species for the small equatorial island nation of Singapore. Intensive surveys carried out in the 1990s and subsequent records indicate that, of these 24 taxa, 15 are still present, another eight species, including all three hipposiderids, have become locally extinct and one other is indeterminate. Almost half (6) of the surviving species have very low abundances. Three new records of bat species in Singapore, namely Nycteris tragata, Rhinolophus lepidus and Murina suilla are assumed to have been present in the past but not detected in earlier surveys. Nycteris tragata and M. suilla are categorized as locally endangered. The vespertilionid, Myotis oreias, recorded previously only in Singapore, was not found in this survey and may be globally extinct.
36 citations
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TL;DR: This study evaluated the roles of overall fruit size and amount of pulp in determining fruit choice in the wild by large Neotropical bats of the genus Artibeus Leach, 1821 (family Phyllostomidae, subfamily Stenodermatinae).
Abstract: When feeding on fruits, frugivores face foraging decisions at least on three levels: choice among fruits of different species, among individual crops of a single species, and among fruits borne on the same plant (Sallabanks, 1993; Wheelwright, 1993). Specifically, selection based upon fruit size, or related otherwise to size constraints (e.g., seed size), has been repeatedly documented (Jordano, 1995b). However, we found little information about the details of this kind of fruit selection by bats, particularly in the case of individual fruits within the crop of an individual parental tree. In this study we investigated the influence of fruit size of Calophyllum brasiliense on fruit choice by large Neotropical bats of the genus Artibeus Leach, 1821 (family Phyllostomidae, subfamily Stenodermatinae). Specifically we evaluated the roles of overall fruit size and amount of pulp in determining fruit choice in the wild.
32 citations
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TL;DR: It is confirmed that bats have the largest relative heart and lung size of all mammals and that small bats compensate the energetic cost of flight mainly by changes in cardiovascular morphology.
Abstract: We estimated the heart and lung size of several species of small bats (Tadarida brasiliensis, Mormopterus kalinowski, Myotis chiloensis, Histiotus macrotus, H. montanus, Lasiurus borealis and L. cinereus) and compared these values to those of bats of larger size and other mammals. Our results confirmed that bats have the largest relative heart and lung size of all mammals. This is associated with the high energetic costs of flight. As expected, the mass-specific lung and heart sizes of small bats were larger than those of large bats. However, although relative heart mass decreased according to body mass, Mb−0.21, lung volume was nearly isometric with body mass (exponent = 0.90). This exponent was close to unity, and between exponents reported previously (0.77 and 1.06). This suggests that small bats compensate the energetic cost of flight mainly by changes in cardiovascular morphology. The relative heart mass of both H. macrotus and H. montanus was particularly large, representing 1.71 and 2.18% ...
31 citations
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TL;DR: The body condition of foraging females and young varied during the season (May to August) and the four most abundant prey categories by volume varied significantly seasonally.
Abstract: In the Western Carpathians (central Slovakia), we recorded Nyctalus leisleri in six foraging habitats. The body condition of foraging females and young varied during the season (May to August). Parturition occurred about mid-June and the first flying young were captured in the first half of July. The ectoparasites were recorded in 56.5% of examined bats and comprised seven arthropod species of mites, fleas and flies; the most common were the mites Spinturnix helvetiae (55.4%) and Steatonyssus spinosus (31.3%). Pregnant females were the most infested. Ectoparasitic flies Nycteribia latreillii and Nycteribia (Acrocholidia) vexata were recorded for the first time in this species. Seven orders of insects were found in the faecal pellets examined. By frequency (F%) and volume (V%), the major food items comprised Lepidoptera (F = 100.0, V = 55.7) and Diptera (F = 91.5, V = 25.6). The four most abundant prey categories by volume varied significantly seasonally.
31 citations
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TL;DR: The development of vocalizations during postnatal growth in the flat-headed bats, Tylonycteris pachypus and T. robustula in South China is described and directive calls that the mother or the infant emitted when searching for each other are described.
Abstract: The development of vocalizations during postnatal growth in the flat-headed bats, Tylonycteris pachypus and T. robustula in South China is described. Females of both species gave birth to twins at the end of May, and the infants flew in the last ten days of June. Vocalizations served as precursors to echolocation calls and as isolation calls (i-calls) used to attract mothers. As the infants grew, the frequency of i-calls and precursor calls increased. The duration of i-calls increased little before 6-day old and then decreased. At the same time, the duration of echolocation precursor calls decreased. The directive calls that the mother or the infant emitted when searching for each other are also described. Female directive calls are lower in frequency and longer in duration than their echolocation calls, and the duration of infant directive calls is longer than those of the i-calls and precursor calls.
26 citations
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TL;DR: The immediate effects of gates on the behaviour of swarming bats as they entered a natural cave are looked at and it is suggested that following the precautionary principle, the minimum spacing between horizontal bars in gates should be 150 mm.
Abstract: Temperate bats make extensive use of caves and mines as nursery roosts, swarming sites and hibernacula. For a variety of reasons, the entrances to many sites have been modified in the past to restrict human access. Early barrier design often gave little regard to bats, leading to massive population declines in many nursery and hibernation sites. Free access to bats has become an increasingly important design feature, as the damaging effects of early gates were recognised. However, given the large number of gates that have been constructed, relatively few studies have looked at either the short or long-term effects of gates on bat behaviour and population sizes. Even fewer studies have examined specifically the effects of different gate designs. We have looked at the immediate effects of gates on the behaviour of swarming bats as they entered a natural cave. Three gates were tested, all with vertical grille spacings of 750 mm, but with horizontal spacings of 150, 130 or 100 mm. The gate with 150 mm spacings had no significant effect on the behaviour of the bats (predominantly Myotis nattereri). Gates with both 130 mm and 100 mm spacing caused a significant and substantial increase in the number of bats aborting their first and often subsequent attempts to enter the cave. The consequences to swarming behaviour and long-term use of the site by bats are unknown, but we suggest that following the precautionary principle, the minimum spacing between horizontal bars in gates should be 150 mm.
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TL;DR: A new species of Murina, which belongs to the ‘cyclotis-group’, is described from Cambodia, characterised by the attachment point of the plagiopatagium, its large skull size, the distinctive shape of the rostrum, and the relative sizes of the upper incisors.
Abstract: A new species of Murina, which belongs to the ‘cyclotis-group’, is described from Cambodia. It is characterised by the attachment point of the plagiopatagium, its large skull size, the distinctive shape of the rostrum, and the relative sizes of the upper incisors. To date, it is only known from Kirirom National Park, where it was collected in disturbed semi-evergreen gallery forest, which had many immature trees.
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TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the ears have a greater sensitivity to click stimuli in front of the animal when directed forwards than when back and to the side, and the potential significance of the production of echolocation signals whilst the ears are moving from their least sensitive to their most sensitive position is discussed.
Abstract: The fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus has highly mobile pinnae. Little is known about the role that such movements play in sound localisation however and whether they interact with the process of echolocation in this species. Here we report the correspondence of echolocation signals in free flight with the downward wingbeat and forward movement of the pinnae, and demonstrate that the ears have a greater sensitivity to click stimuli in front of the animal when directed forwards than when back and to the side. The potential significance of the production of echolocation signals whilst the ears are moving from their least sensitive to their most sensitive position is discussed.
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TL;DR: A brief review of all 24 species of Myotis, Ia, Pipistrellus, Hypsugo, and Arielulus currently listed for Myanmar and three of these are removed from the faunal list for lack of supporting data or because of previous misidentifications.
Abstract: Since 1999, the University of Yangon and the Harrison Institute have conducted a series of bat surveys in Myanmar. During this time, six species of vespertilionid bat have been collected that have not been recorded previously from the country. Two, Myotis horsfieldi and Myotis chinensis were published in 2001 and one, Kerivoula kachinensis, which is a new species to science, in 2004. The remaining three, Myotis mystacinus, Ia io and Pipistrellus pulveratus are included here for the first time. The record of M. mystacinus is the first authenticated one for South-East Asia. Since small vespertilionid bats are difficult to identify and are generally poorly understood, the paper includes a brief review of all 24 species of Myotis, Ia, Pipistrellus, Hypsugo, and Arielulus currently listed for Myanmar. Three of these, Myotis annectans, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Hypsugo savii are removed from the faunal list for lack of supporting data or because of previous misidentifications. The taxon Pipistrellu...
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TL;DR: In 2003, a survey of Kachin and Shan States and Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions in Upper Myanmar was carried out using mist nets and harp traps.
Abstract: Recent studies have shown the importance of Myanmar for the conservation of bat diversity. In March–April, 2003, twenty-five localities in Kachin and Shan States and Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions in Upper Myanmar were surveyed using mist nets and harp traps. Of the twenty-three bat species collected, thirteen were recorded from two localities in Kachin State, one of which has already been described as a new species, Kerivoula kachinensis, and a further two (a Rhinolophus and a Kerivoula) are putative new species. Murina tubinararis, Murina cyclotis and Rhinolophus shameli were recorded for the first time in Myanmar for over 65 years, while our records of Rhinolophus stheno and Rhinolophus malayanus are the most northern localities for these species in Myanmar. Species are discussed individually with external, cranial and dental measurements summarised. We also present descriptive statistics for echolocation calls recorded from five taxa. This represents the first bat survey of northern Myanmar forests for nearly 70 years. Kachin is already known to support high biodiversity and these recent records confirm the importance of its forests for the conservation of Myanmar's mammal fauna.
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TL;DR: The disk-winged bats inhabit the Neotropical region, from Mexico to Southern Brazil, and its main generic diagnostic character is the presence of circular suction disks with short stalks on the soles of the feet and at the base of the well-developed claw of the thumb, which are histological and anatomically different from the Old World sucker-footed bat (Myzopoda sp.; see Nowak, 1999).
Abstract: only one genus, Thyroptera Spix, 1823, and three extant species: T. tricolor Spix, 1823, T. discifera (Lichtenstein and Peters, 1854), and T. lavali Pine, 1993. The disk-winged bats inhabit the Neotropical region, from Mexico to Southern Brazil (Wilson, 1978; Koopman, 1993; Pine, 1993), and its main generic diagnostic character is the presence of circular suction disks with short stalks on the soles of the feet and at the base of the well-developed claw of the thumb, which are histological and anatomically different from the Old World sucker-footed bat (Myzopoda sp.; see Nowak, 1999). Thyroptera tricolor is widely distributed through the Neotropical region occurring from southern Mexico to Bolivia, Trinidad, and southern Brazil, whereas T. discifera occurs from Nicaragua southwards to the Guianas and to at least 10°S in Peru, at 13°10’S and 64°13’W in Bolivia, and Belém, Pará State, and Aripuanã, Mato Grosso State, Brazil (e.g., Wilson and Findley, 1977; Wilson, 1978; Mok et al., 1982; Torres et al., 1988; Pine, 1993; Anderson, 1997; Herrera-Bernal et al., 1999; Nowak, 1999; Tschapka et al., 2000). Both species apparently occur in lowland forest areas. Thyroptera lavali is known from a few localities, including the type locality, Yavari Mirim River, Loreto Department (Pine, 1993), and at Camisea, Cuzco Department, and Alto Madre de Dios River, in Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru (Solari et al., 2004), Orinoco Delta, Venezuela (Linares, 1998), Yasuni National Park, Napo Province, Ecuador (Reid et al., 2000), and Alter do Chão, Pará State, Brazil (Bernard and Fenton, 2002). Thyroptera tricolor and T. discifera may be distinguished by their size, the number of cartilaginous projections in the calcar and their fur color (Wilson and Findley, 1977; Wilson, 1978). Thyroptera lavali differs from both T. tricolor and T. discifera mainly by its larger size, larger free tail portion, wrist suction disk oblong, and more or less Acta Chiropterologica, 7(1): 165–188, 2005 PL ISSN 1508–1109 © Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS
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TL;DR: The results reflect those of earlier studies (based on both morphologic and genetic data), suggesting that the data and analytic techniques described herein may have interesting utility in cladistic analyses.
Abstract: Traditionally, morphometric data have consisted of distances, angles, or ratios, and have been considered inappropriate for cladistic analyses. Recently, geometric morphometrics, based on homologous landmark point-coordinates, has provided a number of advantages over traditional morphometric data and methods, including the possibility that phylogenetically informative characters and character-states may be extracted and used in cladistic analyses. Using two data sets of 3-dimensional point coordinates collected from skulls of bats, we empirically evaluate this possibility. Partial warps were extracted from the point-coordinate matrix, and these were then re-coded by gap-coding, for use in the cladistic analyses. In the case of samples from Eidolon helvum populations (two mainland localities and four islands in the Gulf of Guinea), analyzing males and females separately, our analyses based on these data were unable to detect consistent phylogeographic patterns among the populations. In the case of samples from plecotine bat species, these analyses produced a consensus cladogram showing considerable concordance with an earlier cladistic analysis by us of this group. In both cases, our results reflect those of earlier studies (based on both morphologic and genetic data), suggesting that the data and analytic techniques described herein may have interesting utility in cladistic analyses.
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TL;DR: The large bandwidth of the first harmonic separates Phyllops from all other Cuban bat species and allows identification in the field and the call frequency increased to about 5 calls/100 ms, calls often being grouped.
Abstract: We studied the echolocation calls emitted by Phyllops falcatus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) during foraging, in the field and in the lab. Calls emitted in free flight, in a more or less uncluttered situation, were about 4.5 ms (up to 5.3 ms) long and characterized by a sweep of the first harmonic (= fundamental) from ca. 73 kHz down to about 23 kHz, which is unusually large for phyllostomid bats. A less intense second harmonic was always present. The intervals between pulses varied between 55 and 170 ms with a mean of about 110 ms. During approach to bushes or trees (or during flight in confined space between bushes), or in the flight room, calls became shorter (ca. 2 ms) and more energy was allocated to the second harmonic, sometimes also a third harmonic appeared. During approach to a fruit calls were further shortened (about 1 ms or less), and call frequency increased to about 5 calls/100 ms, calls often being grouped. The large bandwidth of the first harmonic separates Phyllops from all other Cuban bat species and allows identification in the field.
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TL;DR: In contrast to proposed paleobiogeographic scenarios based on molecular data, the fossil record suggests that common pipistrelles, quite rich in the Holocene fossil record, first appeared as late as the present glacial cycle (including the Weichselian interstadials) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In contrast to proposed paleobiogeographic scenarios based on molecular data, the fossil record suggests that in Central Europe the common pipistrelles, quite rich in the Holocene fossil record, first appeared as late as the present glacial cycle (including the Weichselian interstadials). Bats of this group are completely absent from the rich pre-Weichselian record available from Central Europe but occur in the early Middle Pleistocene record in the Mediterranean (Spain, Malta). Thus, it seems that the European range of common pipistrelles was restricted to the Mediterranean region until their northward spread during the present glacial cycle. The proposed range expansion (supposedly from multiple sources) is explained by climatic specificities of the present glacial cycle, namely with repeated extension of the semiarid, warm open-ground habitats that began in the Mediterranean region by the end of the Eemian.
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TL;DR: It is proposed that the echolocation calls of Laephotis wintoni are adapted to be less audible to tympanate insects, supported by the fact its diet is dominated by moths in a habitat where tyMPanate moths comprise 90% of the moth population.
Abstract: Laephotis wintoni is a rare bat and little is known about its biology. We studied this species at Algeria Forestry Station in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. A female caught in November 2002 was pregnant and three females caught in November 2004 were all lactating. The three lactating females were radio tagged and roosted in crevices or narrow fissures in a cliff face above the valley where they foraged. Laephotis wintoni is a small insectivorous bat (body mass, x ± SD = 9.6 ± 0.5 g, n = 4) with low wing loading (7.0 ± 0.7 Nm−2, n = 4), low aspect ratio (5.7 ± 0.5, n = 4), low wingtip shape index (1.2 ± 0.2, n = 4) and long ears (20.9 ± 2.3 mm, n = 2). Its morphology suggests that it is a slow manoeuvrable flyer that can fly close to vegetation, or the ground or over water surfaces. Its relatively pointed wings suggest that it probably does not fly in dense clutter. Furthermore, it combines this wing shape with echolocation calls of relatively low intensity, short duration (2.6 ± 0.8 ms...
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TL;DR: The data confirm that Eonycteris spelaea is indeed aseasonal and polyestrous, and that females are monotocous and appear to undergo two pregnancies a year.
Abstract: Previous field studies suggested that Eonycteris spelaea reproduces at all times of the year, with peak periods that may be associated with the rainy seasons. This study reports the anatomical and histological features that are associated with this pattern, using specimens obtained from this study. Our data confirm that this species is indeed aseasonal and polyestrous, and that females are monotocous and appear to undergo two pregnancies a year. The gross morphology of the male and female reproductive tracts is described. Adult males were found to have spermatogenic testes and secretory accessory sex glands year around. Adult females also were reproductively active year around. Individuals were pregnant, lactating or pregnant and lactating at each sampling. Both sexes possess specialized para-anal sebaceous glandular organs whose odoriferous secretions may have a role as secondary pheromones in the reproductive behavior of Eonycteris.
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TL;DR: The first objective of this study was to determine if it could find a living population or populations of this species, and if extant populations were discovered, to define the species’ current conservation status in accordance with standards proposed by IUCN (2004).
Abstract: The insectivorous flat-headed bat Myotis planiceps (Vespertilionidae) is an endemic species apparently restricted to a very small area, known only from three specimens collected between 1952 and 1970 in Madrean pine-oak woodland in three adjacent states in north-central Mexico: Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Zacatecas (Matson, 1975). Myotis planiceps was once considered extinct by IUCN (Baillie and Groombridge, 1996), but more recently its status was changed to Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2004). The first objective of our study was to determine if we could find a living population or populations of this species. If extant populations were discovered, then further investigations were warranted, including detailed distribution, habitat requirements, dietary habits, and roosting behavior, to define the species’ current conservation status in accordance with standards proposed by IUCN (2004).
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TL;DR: A gradient of pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid secretion similar to that found in some non-mammals can be hypothesised and the possibility that this gradient is the ancestral condition in Chiroptera and Eutheria and its functional meaning are discussed.
Abstract: Histochemical and immunohistochemical investigations were performed on the gastric mucosa of the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774) to estimate the presence of a gradient of pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid along an oro-aboral axis of the stomach, similar to that found in some non-mammals. Paraffin sections were stained with DBA-lectin binding, Bowie and fluorescent anti-H+/K+-ATPase α-subunit immunostaining to detect the chief and parietal cells in the gastric mucosa. The stomach of the bat presents a short cardias, a wide fundus and a small pylorus. Chief and parietal cells were found in the fundic glands and their number varied from the oral to the aboral region of fundus. In the oral region several chief cells with Bowie-positive pepsinogen granules were observed in the basal part of glands, whereas parietal cells positive to DBA-lectin binding and immuroreactive with anti-H+/K+-ATPase α-subunit were concentrated in the the upper part of the glands. In the abora...
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TL;DR: The Guanacevi region has been actively mined at least for the last 500 years and mining activity has resulted in a large number of abandoned mines, which may represent important refuges for the chiropteran fauna of the region as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The Guanacevi region has been actively mined at least for the last 500 years. Mining activity has resulted in a large number of abandoned mines, which may represent important refuges for the chiropteran fauna of the region. I surveyed a sample of 25 abandoned mines during an annual cycle to determine which species use the mines, how they use it, and whether occupation is significantly related to a set of environmental variables measured from the mines. Simultaneously I carried out an inventory of the chiropteran fauna in the area, to determine what portion of the assemblage use the mines. I recorded 13 species for the region (12 vespertilionids and 1 molossid), out of 18 that are likely to occur. Five species were never found in mines; the remaining use them as feeding roosts, temporary roosts, or hibernacula, and only Corynorhinus mexicanus was found forming a maternity colony. Bats were significantly (P 50 m, and less than 3...
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TL;DR: Based on cranial and external morphology and morphometric data, Adam's specimen was found to be a new species of Myotis, which differs in having the combination of a very weakly concave forehead region of the skull, relatively long feet, wing membranes attached to the bases of the tibiae, and no backwardly-curved hairs on the margin of the interfemoral membrane.
Abstract: A specimen of Myotis, collected by Jean-Paul Adam and later identified as Myotis megalopus, was compared with the holotype of megalopus and also with Myotis longipes from India and Afghanistan (which currently includes megalopus as a synonym). It was also compared with M. bocagii (which is sympatric and similar in size), M. daubentonii from Europe (which several authors reported as being very similar), and M. scotti (another sub-Saharan African species of similar size). Based on cranial and external morphology and morphometric data, Adam's specimen was found to be a new species. It differs in having the combination of a very weakly concave forehead region of the skull, relatively long feet, wing membranes attached to the bases of the tibiae, and no backwardly-curved hairs on the margin of the interfemoral membrane. It was collected in a limestone cave at Loudima in the Republic of Congo, in degraded rainforest near a river.
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TL;DR: This study is the first to determine differences not only through time, but also among habitats in the diet of M. megalotis, and suggests that, within the margin of potential preys, there was a level of diet plasticity related to differences in habitat.
Abstract: Feeding strategies in foliage-gleaning bats should be affected by insect availability and the constraints imposed by the environment. Under strong preferences for particular insect prey, habitat should not have an effect on the expected similarities in diet among conspecific bat colonies occupying different environments. We compared the diet of Micronycteris megalotis individuals in two colonies located at different sites in the Andean slopes of northwestern Ecuador, based on insect remains collected at feeding roosts. Our analysis revealed that lepidopterans were extremely abundant in the diet of bats that forage in grasslands (52% of all insect remains), whereas the diet of bats that roost in primary forest consists mostly of coleopterans (85%). Log-linear analyses suggested that Lepidoptera is an influential group determining differences in feeding habits between both colonies, and that there are temporal fluctuations in diet independent of the habitats that were sampled. Analyses of the famil...