Sturnira giannae, Velazco & Patterson, 2019

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 549-550

139.

Gianna’s Yellow-shouldered Bat

Sturnira giannae

French: Sturnire de Gianna / German: Gianna-Gelbschulterfledermaus / Spanish: Sturniro de Gianna

Taxonomy. Sturnira giannae Velazco & Patterson, 2019 ,

“Paracou (5°17’ N, 53°55’ W, 210 m), near Sinnamary, Cayenne, French Guiana.”

By 2010, S. Lilium (sensu lato) represented a species complex that is now recognized to contain no less than five species. Molecular and morphological analyses have solved many of these problems, and S. giannae was the last taxon to be formally described (it had been referred to as Sturnira new species 3). Monotypic.

Distribution. E Andes in Colombia, Venezuela (E of the Orinoco River), Trinidad and Tobago Is, the Guianas, E Ecuador, E Peru, Amazonian Brazil, and N Bolivia, but also W of the Andes in N Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 65-73 mm (tailless), ear 14-17 mm, hindfoot 12-15 mm, forearm 43-47 mm; weight 14-25 g. Gianna’s Yellow-shouldered Batis small and easily confused with the Little Yellow-shouldered Bat (S. lium) or Luis’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (S. luist). Dorsal fur is short (5-6 mm between shoulders) and bicolored, with pale brown bases (80% of length) and dark brown tips. Ventral fur short and unicolored, brown to reddish brown. Shoulder glands (epaulettes) are present on both sexes, but variable in degree of development. There are two extremes of fur color, with some individuals having brown fur and others being much more reddish. Muzzle is blunt, forehead is rounded, and ears and noseleaf are short. Wing membranes are dark brown to almost blackish. Dorsal surface of forearm is densely furred with short hairs; dorsal surfaces of femur, tibia, and feet are sparsely covered with long hairs. Trailing edge of uropatagium is covered by short hairs (5 mm). Skull has globular braincase, with slender rostrum and well-developed sagittal crest. I' are slightly bicuspidate, orthodont, and at least twice the height of I?, and I, and I,are tricuspidate and subequal in height. Lingual cusps (metaconid and entoconid) of M, and M, are well defined and separated by deep notch. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 30 and FN = 56, with a subtelocentric X-chromosome (as “S. lilium ” from Trinidad).

.

Habitat. Amazonian and lower Orinoco humid forests and also from Llanos of Colombia, in a wide variety of forested habitats, including mature and secondary growth, and pre-montane forests and clearings below elevations of ¢. 2000 m. Roosts of Gianna’s Yellow-shouldered Bats include dense foliage, tree holes, caves, culverts, and buildings.

Food and Feeding. Gianna’s Yellow-shouldered Bat is predominantly frugivorous and reportedly feeds on at least 41 plant species from 20 genera in 14 families, including fruits of Piper spp. ( Piperaceae ) and Solanum spp. ( Solanaceae ) and perhaps Cecropiaceae , Moraceae , Clusiaceae , and Rubiaceae and other small fruits. Its diet might include pollen and nectar but only occasionally. It has been attracted to crops in eastern Peru.

Breeding. Lactating Gianna’s Yellow-shouldered Bats have been reported in May-June and November in north-eastern Peru; March,July-August, and October-Novemberin Peru; and June-August in French Guiana. Pregnant and lactating females were reported in December—January in Para and Amazonas states, Brazil. This suggests aseasonal polyestry with postpartum estrus.

Activity patterns. Giannae’s Yellow-shouldered Bat is nocturnal. Most captures are from mist nets in lower strata (ground level). It is uncommon around urban areas.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Giannae’s Yellow-shouldered Bat seems to be locally common at some specific areas and habitats (lowlands), with no significant differences in seasonal abundance throughout the year.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Given that Giannae’s Yellow-shouldered Bat is one of the most widely distributed species of Sturnira , its conservation status is expected to be stable.

Bibliography. Baker & Hsu (1970), Brosset & Dubost (1967), Cabrera (1958), Gannon et al. (1989), Gardner (20089), Goodwin & Greenhall (1961), Handley (1976), Hice et al. (2004), Linares (1998), Marques-Aguiar (1985), Tuttle (1970), Velazco & Patterson (2013, 2014, 2019).

Figures

119. Bidentate Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira bidens), 120. Lesser Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira nana), 121. Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira aratathomasi), 122. Honduran Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira hondurensis), 123. Burton's Yellow-shouldered Bat (Stwrnira burtonlimi), 124. Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira ludovici), 125. Adriana’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira adrianae), 126. Tschudi’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira oporaphilum), 127. Mistratoan Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira mistratensis), 128. Soriano’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira sorianoi), 129. Choco Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira koopmanhilli), 130. Talamancan Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira mordax), 131. Perla Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira perla), 132. Tilda’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira tildae), 133. Hairy Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira erythromos), 134. Bogota Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira bogotensis), 135. Greater Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira magna), 136. Northern Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira parvidens), 137. Baker's Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira bakeri), 138. Little Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira Lilium), 139. Gianna’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira giannae), 140. Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira angeli), 141. Paulson’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira paulsoni), 142. Luis’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira luisi)

Distribution. E Andes in Colombia , Venezuela (E of the Orinoco River), Trinidad and Tobago Is, the Guianas, E Ecuador , E Peru , Amazonian Brazil , and N Bolivia , but also W of the Andes in N Peru .