Nyctinomops laticaudatus (E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1805)

García, Franger J., Ochoa-G, José, Poma-Urey, José L., Miller, Bruce W., Falcão, Fábio C. & del Valle Alvarez, Martín Roberto, 2024, Expanding the knowledge of the bat fauna of the Brazilian Caatinga: new geographical records of molossid bats (Chiroptera, Molossidae) for the Chapada Diamantina region, with taxonomic notes, ZooKeys 1210, pp. 333-371 : 333-371

Nyctinomops laticaudatus (E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1805)

Summary of captures.

Six females ( CMARF 2217–2222) and two males ( CMARF 2223, 2224).

External measurements and weights.

Females: TLB: 107.15 (100.00–110.87), TL: 46.86 (41.00–50.17), LHL: 8.30 (7.00–10.00), EL: 14.42 (15.56–19.00), W: 11.66 (9.00–15.00). Males: TLB: 106.00 (105.00–107.00), TL: 49.00 (48.00–50.00), LHL: 7.00 (7.00–7.00), EL: 17.50 (17.00–18.00), W: 10.00 (9.00–11.00).

Morphological description.

The dorsal pelage is dark brown chocolate, with a paler belly (Fig. 13 ). The ears are relatively long and rounded, with the upper edges converging the forehead. The tragus is small and square, and the antitragus is well-developed and wider at the base. The muzzle is pointed and upturned. Upper lips are deeply furrowed, with vertical folds that overhang the lower lips. Nostrils raised with rows of rectangular papillae on the edge, forming a crest on both sides.

Skull robust (Fig. 13 ), with sagittal and lambdoidal crests present but not well-developed (only discernible under magnification). Basisphenoid pits deep. Anterior border of palate emarginated. Premaxillaries scarcely separated at the anterior portion. The upper incisors are barely parallel. Lacrimal processes are well-developed. The first lower premolar is in contact with the canine, and the larger second premolar. Third lower molar is diminutive, with a complete commissure. Some skull measurements are shown in Table 1 .

Identification.

The forearm length <47 mm, the greatest length of the skull <19 mm, and the shallow basisphenoid pits distinguish individuals of this species from its congeners, N. macrotis (Gray, 1839) and N. aurispinosus (T. R. Peale, 1848) ( Eger 2008) .

Figures

Figure 13. Female of Nyctinomops laticaudatus (CMARF 2217; D) collected in the Caatinga, northeastern Brazil A dorsal B ventral, and C lateral views of the skull. Scale bar 5 mm.