Complete mitochondrial genome of the greater round-eared bat, Tonatia bidens (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Brazil and phylogenetic relationships within the family.

The greater round-eared bat, Tonatia bidens, is a locally rare species belonging to the highly diverse family Phyllostomidae. In this study, the complete mitogenome of T. bidens was sequenced using optimized protocols of DNA extraction from fixed cells originally prepared for cytogenetic studies. Here we present the complete mitogenome and place our results in a phylogenetic context with other data generated for the family Phyllostomidae. The circular genome had 16,717 bp in size, comprising 37 genes and GC content of 42.24%. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree indicated a well-supported relationship between the representatives of Tonatia into the subfamily Phyllostominae.

Systematics and Taxonomy of Tonatia saurophila Koopman & Williams, 1951 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae).

The Stripe-headed Round-eared bat, Tonatia saurophila, includes three subspecies: Tonatia saurophila saurophila (known only from subfossil records in Jamaica), Tonatia saurophila bakeri (distributed from southeastern Mexico to northern Colombia, Venezuela west and north of the Cordillera de Mérida, and northwestern Ecuador), and Tonatia saurophila maresi (distributed in Venezuela east and south of the Cordillera de Mérida, the Guianas, Trinidad and Tobago, northeastern Brazil, and along the upper Amazon basin in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia). The last two subspecies are an attractive example to test predictions about the historical role of the Andes in mammalian diversification. Based on morphological descriptions, morphometric analyses, and phylogenetic reconstruction using the mitochondrial gene Cyt-b and the nuclear exon RAG2, this study evaluates the intraspecific relationships within Tonatia saurophila and the taxonomic status of the taxon. The three subspecies of T. saurophila are recognizable as full species: Tonatia bakeri, Tonatia maresi, and Tonatia saurophila. The latter is restricted to its type locality and possibly is extinct. Tonatia bakeri, in addition to being larger than T. maresi, is morphologically distinguishable by possessing an acute apex at the posterior edge of the skull, a well-developed clinoid process, and relatively robust mandibular condyles, and by lacking a diastema between the canine and the first lower premolar. The genetic distance between T. bakeri and T. maresi is 7.65%.

ResumenEl Murciélago de orejas redondas de cabeza rayada, Tonatia saurophila, incluye tres subespecies: Tonatia saurophila saurophila (conocida sólo por registros subfósiles en Jamaica), Tonatia saurophila bakeri (distribuida desde el sureste de México hasta el norte de Colombia, Venezuela al oeste y norte de la Cordillera de Mérida, y el noroeste de Ecuador), y Tonatia saurophila maresi (distribuida en Venezuela al este y sur de la Cordillera de Mérida, las Guayanas, Trinidad y Tobago, el noreste de Brasil, y la vertiente amazónica de los Andes de Colombia, Ecuador, Peru y Bolivia). Las dos últimas subespecies representan un ejemplo atractivo para poner a prueba predicciones sobre el rol histórico de los Andes en la diversificación de mamíferos. Con base en descripciones morfológicas, análisis morfométricos y una reconstrucción filogenética empleando el gen mitocondrial Cyt-b y el gen nuclear RAG2, este estudio evalúa las relaciones intraspecíficas dentro de Tonatia saurophila y el estatus taxonómico del taxón. Las tres subespecies de T. saurophila son reconocidas como especies plenas: Tonatia bakeri, T. maresi y T. saurophila. Esta última está restringida a la localidad tipo y posiblemente está extinta. Tonatia bakeri, además de ser de mayor tamaño que T. maresi, se diferencia morfológicamente por poseer un ápice agudo en el borde posterior del cráneo, un proceso clinoideo bien desarrollado y cóndilos mandibulares relativamente robustos, y por carecer de un diastema entre el canino y el primer premolar inferior. La distancia genética entre T. bakeri y T. maresi es 7.65%.

First record of predation of Nyctinomops laticaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1805) by Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856) (Mammalia: Chiroptera).

The Wooly False Vampire Bat, Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs and occasionally large insects and fruits. In this paper we report an additional evidence of bat predation by C. auritus. A male of this species was captured with a partially eaten Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1805) (Chiroptera: Molossidae). This record was obtained during a research project conducted in the Biological Reserve of Sooretama, Southeastern Brazil.

First record of pigmentation disorder in the Fringe-lipped Bat Trachops cirrhosus (Spix, 1823) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from southeast Brazil.

Piebaldism is a genetic pigmentation disorder, which is caused by absence of melanocytes in parts of the skin and/or hair follicles, with eyes and claws normally pigmented. The occurrence of piebaldism in natural populations is rare and the effects on fitness are still unknown. This article reports the first case of pigmentation disorders in the Fringe-lipped Bat Trachops cirrhosus (Spix, 1823) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) caught in Barra do Triunfo, city of João Neiva, northeastern state of Espírito Santo, southeast Brazil.

Morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) da Reserva Rio das Pedras, Rio de Janeiro, Sudeste do Brasil / Bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) from Reserva Rio das Pedras, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

Uma lista das espécies de morcegos da Reserva Rio das Pedras, Município de Mangaratiba, foi elaborada através de capturas com redes de neblina, desde setembro de 1995 até junho de 2008, totalizando 242424 h.rede de esforço de captura. O total de 30 espécies de morcegos foi registrado em 1321 capturas e recapturas. As espécies predominantes foram Carollia perspicillata e Artibeus lituratus. Seis famílias foram registradas: Emballonuridae, Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Thyropteridae, Vespertilionidae e Molossidae. Comparando com seis listas de espécies disponíveis de locais distantes até 100 km, a Reserva Rio das Pedras apresentou alta riqueza, diversidade e abundância de Phyllostominae, comprovando a relevância do local para a conservação dos morcegos.

A list of bats species from Reserva Rio das Pedras, Municipality of Mangaratiba, was performed using captures with mist nets, from September 1995 to June 2008, totaling 242424 h.net of capture effort. A total of 30 bat species were recorded in 1321 captures and recaptures. The predominant species were Carollia perspicillata and Artibeus lituratus. Six families were registered: Emballonuridae, Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Thyropteridae, Vespertilionidae and Molossidae. Compared with six lists of species available from locations up to 100 km, Reserva Rio das Pedras showed high species richness, diversity and abundance of Phyllostominae, proving the relevance of the site for bats conservation.

The distribution of the spectral bat, Vampyrum spectrum, reaches the Southern Pantanal / A distribuição do morcego espectral, Vampyrum spectrum, atinge o Pantanal sul

The largest New World bat, Vampyrum spectrum, is a locally rare top predator, which occurs from Mexico to South America. Here, we report for the first time its occurrence in the southern Pantanal floodplain, basing our records on specimens that are also the first to be reported for the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. We conducted bat surveys in two sites 120 km apart, in the Aquidauana and Nhecolândia regions. Among 2,498 bat captures, two individuals of V. spectrum were mist-netted, one at each site. These records expand southward the distribution range of V. spectrum, and in addition to other records in the Northern Pantanal border and Bolivia support that V. spectrum is widely distributed in the upper Paraguay basin.

O maior morcego do Novo Mundo, Vampyrum spectrum, é um predador de topo localmente raro que ocorre do México à América do Sul. Reportamos aqui pela primeira vez sua ocorrência na região sul da planície inundável do Pantanal, tomando como base espécimes que também são os primeiros registrados para o Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Realizamos inventários em dois sítios distantes 120 km, nas regiões de Aquidauana e Nhecolândia. Dentre 2498 capturas de morcegos, dois indivíduos de V. spectrum foram registrados, um em cada sítio. Esses registros expandem a distribuição de V. spectrum para o sul, e somados a outros registros na borda Norte do Pantanal e na Bolívia sustentam que V. spectrum é amplamente distribuída na bacia do alto Paraguai.