Sturnira aratathomasi, Peterson & Tamsitt, 1968

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 543-544

121.

Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat

Sturnira aratathomasi

French: Sturnire Arata-Thomas / German: Arata-Thomas-Gelbschulterfledermaus / Spanish: Sturniro de Arata-Thomas

Other common names: Arata Yellow-shouldered Bat, Giant Yellow-shouldered Bat, Thomas's Yellow-shouldered Bat

Taxonomy. Sturnira aratathomas: Peterson & Tamsit, 1968 ,

“ 2 km south of Pance (approximately 20 km southwest of Cali), Dept. of Valle, Colombia, at 1650 metres elevation.”

Phylogenetic analyses of molecular data indicate that S. aratathomasi represents a unique lineage of Sturnira , not closely related to any other species. Monotypic.

Distribution. W Colombia, W Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. Records from Ecuador do not have precise localities.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 88-101 mm (tailless), ear 19-22 mm, hindfoot 17-21 mm, forearm 55-61 mm; weight 47-54 g. The Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat is one of the largest species of Sturnira . Upperparts range from grayish brown to brownish tones; head is pale grayish brown, with some darker spots on rostrum and frontal area. Fur is long (7-8 mm), soft, and woolly. Hairs on shoulder area have four distinguishable bands: short white basal band, light gray epibasal band, white subterminal band, and grayish brown terminal band. Basal band is missing on back. Shoulder patches (sebaceous glands) are not evident. Underparts are paler, usually with three-banded hairs. Fur is longer on posterior one-half of back. Elbow area and adjacent areas of wings are sparsely covered with short hairs. Wing membranes are mostly blackish. Tail membraneis very short and moderately furred; there is no calcar. Feet are hairy. Skull is robust and elongated. Upper incisors protrude, and cusps of I! are pointed and have no contact at tips. I are trilobed, I, are bilobed, and molars have deep lingualclefts on M| and M,,

Habitat. Dry inter-Andean lower, pre-montane, and montane forests, including cloudy, evergreen, and secondary forests, at elevations of 1650-3165 m (usually above 2000 m). In Colombia, the Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat was recorded in all three Cordilleras, but in Peru, it is reported only in lower montane forests on eastern slope of the Andes. Based on this distribution, it is expected to occur in northern Bolivia.

Food and Feeding. In one of the few ecological studies in Colombia, the Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat preferred fruits of Solanaceae (44% frequency), with a particular preference for species of Solanum (Solanaceae) . It is expected to have a predominantly frugivorous diet but including some pollen, nectar, and insects.

Breeding. Pregnant Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bats have been found in February and August, suggesting bimodal polyestry. Its reproductive cycle probably follows the two peaks in food resources associated with wet seasons in Andean forests.

Activity patterns. The Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat is nocturnal. It has been captured in understories and subcanopies. A cave is the only record of a roost.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat was found sharing a cave with the Tailed Tailless Bat ( Anoura caudifer ) and the Bidentate Yellow-shouldered Bat ( Sturnira bidens ) at Cueva de los Guacharos, Cordillera Oriental of Colombia.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat might be locally rare, but there is no information on specific requirements for its occurrence at a local scale. Its total distribution is rather extensive.

Bibliography. Estrada-Villegas et al. (2007), Gardner (2008g), McCarthy et al. (1991), Pacheco & Hocking (2006), Pacheco & Patterson (1991), Peterson & Tamsitt (1968), Soriano & Molinari (1984, 1987), Tamsitt et al. (1986), Thomas & McMurray (1974), Velazco & Patterson (2013).

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. W Colombia , W Venezuela , Ecuador , and Peru . Records from Ecuador do not have precise localities.