Lonchorhina aurita, Tomes, 1863

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 497

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6458594

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6762169

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A687BC-FFBC-FFBC-13BE-FABCF8D9F0D0

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Lonchorhina aurita
status

 

18. View Plate 35: Phyllostomidae

Common Sword-nosed Bat

Lonchorhina aurita View in CoL

French: Lonchorhine de Tomes / German: Eigentliche Schwertnase / Spanish: Loncorino de Tomes

Other common names: Tomes's Sword-nosed Bat

Taxonomy. Lonchorhina aurita Tomes, 1863 View in CoL ,

West Indies. Restricted by O. Thomas in 1893 to Trinidad.

Original description of L. aurita was based on material from the West Indies of unclear origin, which later was determined to be from Trinidad. While traditionally considered in the subfamily Phyllostominae , molecular data support placement of Lonchorhina in a monogeneric subfamily Lonchorhininae that is basal in Phyllostomidae . Some researchers consider subspecies synonymous because morphology does not support clear separation. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

L.a.auntaTomes,1863—fromSMexico(VeracruzandOaxaca)SthroughoutCentralAmericatoEEcuador,EPeru,NBoliviaandSEBrazilinSouthAmerica;alsoonTrinidadI.Norecentsupportfora1905recordfromNewProvidenceI,Bahamas.

L. a. occidentalis Anthony, 1923 — W Ecuador (Puente de Chimbo, Guayas Province). View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 53-67 mm, tail 42-65 mm, ear 19-35 mm, hindfoot 13-15 mm, forearm 47-57 mm; weight 12-17 g. Fur of the Common Sword-nosed Bat is dark brown to reddish, probably related to roosting conditions. Species of Lonchorhina have very long ears and tragi. Among all phyllostomids, they have the longest noseleaves and most complex basal structures around nostrils. Calcar of the Common Sword-nosed Batis long and exceeds length of foot, and tail extends to posterior edge of long uropatagium—a characteristic shared among phyllostomids only with the Long-legged Bat ( Macrophyllum macrophyllum ). Dental formula for all species of Lonchorhinais 12/2, C 1/1, P 2/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 34. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 60.

Habitat. Various forested habitats from dry caatinga in Brazil to semideciduous lowland forest in Panama and lowland and pre-montane rainforests in Costa Rica from sea level to elevations above 1500 m. Common Sword-nosed Bats often occur near water bodies in primary and secondary forests but sometimes in more fragmented agricultural landscapes. They depend on caves for roosting but readily use anthropogenic cave-like structures, such as mines and dark culverts.

Food and Feeding. Recent evidence indicates that the Common Sword-nosed Batis, in contrast to most other carnivorous leaf-nosed bats, an aerial insectivore that predominantly captures flying moths—a behavior probably supported by long tail and uropatagium. It uses multiharmonic echolocation calls (highest energy mostly in third harmonic), which include initial short CF component followed by FM component. In more open habitats, it can also emit longercalls consisting only of CF component with very weak harmonics.

Breeding. Pregnant Common Sword-nosed Bats were found in February-March in Panama and in March in Mexico, indicating that pregnancy occurs mainly during dry season and births around onset of rainy season.

Activity patterns. Common Sword-nosed Batsstart their activity after full darkness and return to roosts well before dawn. Peak frequency of CF componentsis 45 kHz in Central America and c.50 kHz in north-eastern Brazil.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Common Sword-nosed Bats are widespread but generally not locally abundant. While there are reports of 500 individuals and more in one cave, most roosting groups are smaller. Roosts are regularly shared with other cave-dwelling species such as Parnell’s Mustached Bats ( Pteronotus parnelli ), Common Vampire Bats ( Desmodus rotundus ), Fringe-lipped Bats ( Trachops cirrhosus ), and Seba’s Short-tailed Bats ( Carollia perspicillata ).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. While Common Sword-nosed Bats appear to occur in a broad variety of habitats, including disturbed and undisturbed sites, dependence on dark caves and cave-like structures makes them potentially vulnerable.

Bibliography. Barros et al. (2009), Bloedel (1955), Dobson (1880a), Eisenberg & Redford (1999), Gessinger et al. (2019), Hernandez-Camacho & Cadena (1978), Jordan et al. (2014), Kalbantner (2018), Lassieur & Wilson (1989), Leal et al. (2018), Lopes & Ditchfield (2009), Medellin et al. (2008), Medina-Fitoria et al. (2007), Miller (1905), Solmsen (1985), Thomas (1893a).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Chiroptera

Family

Phyllostomidae

Genus

Lonchorhina

Loc

Lonchorhina aurita

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier 2019
2019
Loc

Lonchorhina aurita

Tomes 1863
1863
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