Anoura aequatoris (Lonnberg, 1921)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 519

64.

Ecuadorian Tailless Bat

Anoura aequatoris

French: Anoura d’' Equateur / German: Ecuador-Langnasenfledermaus / Spanish: Anoura de Ecuador

Taxonomy. Lonchoglossa wiedi aequatoris Lonnberg, 1921 ,

“llambo [= Illambo],” near Gualea, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Anoura aequatoris was originally considered a subspecies of A. caudifer ; however, based on morphometric analyses of the smaller species of Anoura , it was raised to a distinct status. Some records from western slope of Ecuadorian Andes require additional study to validate their taxonomic identity. Monotypic.

Distribution. C & W Andes ranges, from NW Colombia (Cocorna in Antioquia Department) S through Ecuador and Peru to WC Bolivia (Chijchipa in La Paz Department). Exact limits of its distribution on E slope of Andes from Colombia through Bolivia are unknown.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 51-59 mm, tail 0-7 mm, ear 10-15 mm, hindfoot 7-11 mm, forearm 32-38 mm; weight 8-9 g. The Ecuadorian Tailless Bat is among the smallest species of Anoura , almost as small as Luis Manuel's Tailless Bat (A. luismanueli ). Pelage is dark brown overall. Head is long and narrow, snoutis elongated, and vibrissae are conspicuous. Noseleaf is small and triangular, and ears are somewhat rounded. Lowerlip is longer than upper lip. Tongue is long, with hairy papillae for nectar retention. Caudal membrane is short (3-3-5 mm) and densely covered with hairs that extend and form fringe along its free margin. Tail is absent or, if present, difficult to distinguish; calcar is short, less than one-half the length of foot. Upperincisors are small, and two pairs are separated by wide medial diastema. Small P?is slightly separated from C' in lateral view.

Habitat. Montane forests of Andean region (Yungas) at elevations of 1000-1500 m. Species similar to the Ecuadorian Tailless Bat, such as those in the caudifer species complex (Tailed Tailless Bat, A. caudifer ; Luis Manuel’s Tailless Bat, A. luismanueli ; Cadena’s Tailless Bat, A. cadenai ; and Tube-lipped Tailless Bat, A. fistulata ), tend to use primary forests with high humidity.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Ecuadorian Tailless Bats are nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Cabrera (1958), Griffiths & Gardner (2008a), Harper et al. (2013), Heideman et al. (1992), Jarrin-Valladares & Kunz (2008), Lonnberg (1921), Mantilla-Meluk & Baker (2006), Mantilla-Meluk et al. (2012), Oprea et al. (2009), Pacheco et al. (2018), Sanborn (1933), Teran & Aguirre (2007a), Tirira (2017).

Figures

63. Tailed Tailless Bat (Anoura caudifer), 64. Ecuadorian Tailless Bat (Anowra aequatoris), 65. Cadena’s Tailless Bat (Anowra cadenai), 66. Tube-lipped Tailless Bat (Anoura fistulata), 67. Luis Manuel’s Tailless Bat (Anoura luismanueli), 68. Peruvian Tailless Bat (Anowra javier), 69. Handley’s Tailless Bat (Anoura cultrata), 70. Broad-toothed Tailless Bat (Anowra latidens), 71. Geoffroy’s Tailless Bat (Anoura geoffroy), 72. Tschudi’s Tailless Bat (Anoura peruana), 74. Godman’s Long-tailed Bat (Choeroniscus godmani), 75. Lesser Long-tailed Bat (Choeroniscus minor), 76. Greater Long-tailed Bat (Choeroniscus periosus), 77. Mexican Long-tongued Bat (Choeronycteris mexicana), 78. Capixaba Nectarfeeding Bat (Dryadonycteris capixaba), 79. Banana Bat (Musonycteris harrisoni), 80. Pale Brown Long-tongued Bat (Lichonycteris degener), 81. Dark Long-tongued Bat (Lichonycteris obscura), 82. Ega Long-tongued Bat (Scleronycteris ega)

Distribution. C & W Andes ranges, from NW Colombia (Cocorna in Antioquia Department) S through Ecuador and Peru to WC Bolivia (Chijchipa in La Paz Department). Exact limits of its distribution on E slope of Andes from Colombia through Bolivia are unknown.