Erophylla sezekorni (Gundlach, 1861)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 517

62.

Buffy Flower Bat

Erophylla sezekorni

French: Erophylle de Sezekorn / German: Gelbbraune Blitenfledermaus / Spanish: Erofilo de Sezekorn

Taxonomy. Phyllonycteris sezekorni Gundlach in Peters, 1861,

“ Cuba.” Restricted by G. Silva-Taboada in 1976 to Rangel, Santa Cruz de los Pinos, Pinar del Rio, Cuba.

Four subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

E.s.sezekorniGundlach,1861—Cuba,includingIsladelaJuventud.

E.s.mariguanensisShamel,1931—SBahamas(MayaguanaI)andCaicosIs.

E.s.planifronsG.S.Miller,1899—Bahamas(GreatBahamaBank,LittleBahamaBank,andAcklins-CrookedIsBank)andCaymanIs.

E. s. syops G. M. Allen, 1917 — Jamaica.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 69-83 mm, tail 10-19 mm, ear 14-18 mm, hindfoot 13— 17 mm, forearm 43-51 mm; weight 13-21 g. The Buffy Flower Batis very similar to the Brown Flower Bat ( FE. bombifrons ); most obvious difference is probably the more gently sloping rostrum of the Buffy Flower Bat, which is also more variable in dorsal color. Fur is short and silky, chestnut-brown dorsally and beige ventrally, and lighter on face and head. Hairs are white at bases and brown attips. Flight membranes and ears are light brown and devoid of hair. Snout is elongated and contains long protrusible tongue, rather thick compared to that of Leach’s Single-leaf Bat ( Monophyllus redmani ). Noseleaf is clearly defined, but it is much shorter and rudimentary than in most phyllostomids, and median split occurs on lowerlip. Vestigial calcar measures 1-2 mm and distinguishes the Buffy Flower Bat from the sympatric Cuban Flower Bat ( Phyllonycteris poey). Braincase rises abruptly from rostral plane, and zygomatic arches are complete. Diploid number 1s 2n = 32; all autosomes are biarmed, and most are metacentric and submetacentric. Xchromosome is largest, and Y-chromosome is minute. Testes are 2:5—4-5 mm.

Habitat. Xeric and mesic habitats, including coffee, coconut, and banana plantations; over rivers; and along edges of sparse forests and pastures.

Food and Feeding. Of 30 stomachs of Buffy Flower Bats from Cuba, 23 contained only pollen, four had pollen and insects, and three had pollen and seeds of the bromeliad Hohenbergia penduliflora (Bromelioideae) . It also feeds on pollen from Kigelia pinnata (Bignoniaceae) , while hovering. An individual captured in secondary forest in Sierra del Rosario, Cuba, had only unidentified pollen in its stomach. In Jamaica, it feeds on fruits of Brosimum alicastrum (Moraceae) and Cordia collococca (Boraginaceae) .

Breeding. The Buffy Flower Bat is considered monoestrous. It is polygynous, probably promiscuous. Mature males have a sexually dimorphic green-colored salivary gland. Fat reserves are significantly lower in dry seasons than wet seasons. Pregnant females can be found in February—June, peaking in April. Lactation occurs in June-September. Copulation likely occurs in December—January.

Activity patterns. Based on data from Cuba, the Buffy Flower Bat departs day roosts 53— 100 minutes after sunset, making it one of the last species to leave a cave. It roosts predominantly in tepid areas (26°C) of caves, where it roosts in multispecies assemblages but maintains spatial separation from the other species. Found in abandoned buildings and, exceptionally, cooler sections of caves. It likely flies in forest understories.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Buffy Flower Bat forms smaller colonies of a few hundreds. As a result, it probably does not have to commute over long distances to forage. Nevertheless, it has been observed using night roosts while foraging in Cuba and Jamaica.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Buffy Flower Bat is considered common throughoutits restricted distribution. In the Bahamas,it is the most widespread species of bat. In Cuba,it is very common and has been collected in all but one province (Camagtiey). Reports from Jamaica vary, but it appears to be less common than on other islands. It occurs in protected areas.

Bibliography. Baker, August & Steuter (1978), Fleming et al. (2009), Genowayset al. (2005), Mancina & Davalos (2008), Mancina, Garcia-Rivera & Capote (2007), McNab (1976), Rodriguez-Durén (2009), Silva-Taboada (1976b, 1979), Simmons (2005), Speer et al. (2015), Timm & Genoways (2003).

Figures

47. Insular Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus plethodon), 48. Leach’s Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus redmani), 49. Commissaris’s L. ong-tongued Bat (Glossophaga commissaris), 50. Western Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga morenoi), 51. Gray's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga leachii), 52. Miller's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga longirostris), 53. Pallas’s Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga soricina), 54. Southern LLong-nosed Bat (Leptonyctenis curasoae), 55. Greater Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris nivalis), 56. Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), 57. Antillean Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla cavernarum), 58. Cuban Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla nana), 59. Jamaican Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla), 60. Cuban Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi), 61. Brown Flower Bat (Erophylla bombifrons), 62. Buffy Flower Bat (Erophylla sezekorni)

Subspecies and Distribution. E.s.sezekorniGundlach,1861—Cuba,includingIsladelaJuventud. E.s.mariguanensisShamel,1931—SBahamas(MayaguanaI)andCaicosIs. E.s.planifronsG.S.Miller,1899—Bahamas(GreatBahamaBank,LittleBahamaBank,andAcklins-CrookedIsBank)andCaymanIs. E. s. syops G. M. Allen, 1917 — Jamaica .