Molossus coibensis, J. A. Allen, 1904

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 624-625

13.

Coiban Mastuff Bat

Molossus coibensis

French: Molosse de Coiba / German: Coiba-Samtfledermaus / Spanish: Moloso de Coiba

Other common names: Coiban Free-tailed Bat

Taxonomy. Molossus coibensis J. A. Allen, 1904 ,

Coiba Island, Panama.

Molossus barnest was recently synonymized under M. coibensis due to morphological and genetic similarities. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from scattered localities in S Mexico (Chiapas), El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama (including Coiba I), N & C Colombia, N Venezuela, S Guyana, N French Guiana, NE Ecuador, C Peru, and E & S Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 52-78 mm, tail 28-40 mm, ear 11-15 mm, hindfoot 7-11 mm, forearm 33-37 mm; weight 10-18 g. The Coiban Mastiff Bat overlaps in size with Fenton’s Mastff Bat (M. fenton:) but is smaller than all other species of Molossus . It has black to dark brown dorsal hairs, with or without narrow pale band at base that does not cover more than one-quarter the hair length. Dorsal pelage is short (2-3 mm); ventral pelage is lighter than dorsal pelage. Ears are rounded and arise from same point on forehead. Tragus is small, and antitragus is constricted at its base. Face is medium to dark brown. Upper lip and snout are smooth and lack any medial ridge. Wings and uropatagium are medium to dark brown. Skull is globose, with quadrangular occipital region and infraorbital foramen opening frontally in frontal view. Basioccipital pits are shallow or absent. I* is short and spatulated, with convergenttips.

Habitat. Dry and humid semideciduous forests, evergreen forests, and urban areas from lowlands to elevations of ¢. 1300 m.

Food and Feeding. The Coiban Mastiff Bat is an aerial insectivore. Coleoptera , Hymenoptera , and Diptera have been found in its feces.

Breeding. Pregnant Coiban Mastiff Bats with single embryos have been found in March—June and lactating females in June.

Activity patterns. The Coiban Mastiff Bat roosts in hollow trees and buildings.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Large colonies of Coiban Masuff Bats have been observed roosting together with Pallas’s Mastiff Bat ( Molossus molossus ), the Black Mastiff Bat ( M. rufus ), and the Lesser Bulldog Bat (Noctilio albiventris).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Coiban Mastiff Bat has a wide distribution and presumably large populations. It occurs in several protected areas and tolerates some habitat modification.

Bibliography. Castro-Arellano & Uribe (2014), Catzeflis et al. (2016), Costa et al. (2013), Dolan (1989), Eger (2008), Fleming et al. (1972), Freeman (1981), Gageret al. (2016), Lim & Engstrom (2001), Loureiro, Gregorin & Perini (2018), McDonough et al. (2008), Mora (2016), Owen & Girén (2012), Pimenta et al. (2014), Reid (2009).

Figures

1. Blunt-eared Bat (Tomopeas ravus), 2. Lesser Naked Bat (Chewromeles parvidens), 3. Greater Naked Bat (Chewromeles torquatus), 4. Peters’s Little Mastff Bat (Mormopterus jugularis), 5. Reunion Little Masuft Bat (Mormopterus francoismoutoui), 6. Mauritian Little Mastiff Bat (Mormopterus acetabulosus), 7. Sumatran Little Mastift Bat (Mormopterus doriae), 8. Least Little Mastiff Bat (Mormopterus minutus), 9. Kalinowski’s Little Mastiff Bat (Mormopterus kalinowskii), 10. Incan Little Masuft Bat (Mormopterus phrudus), 11. Alvarez’s Mastff Bat (Molossus alvarez), 12. Aztec Mastff Bat (Molossus aztecus), 13. Coiban Mastuff Bat (Molossus cotbensis)

Distribution. Known from scattered localities in S Mexico (Chiapas), El Salvador , Honduras , Costa Rica , Panama (including Coiba I), N & C Colombia , N Venezuela , S Guyana , N French Guiana, NE Ecuador , C Peru , and E & S Brazil .