Pteronotus personatus (Wagner, 1843)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Mormoopidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 424-443 : 440

8.

Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat

Pteronotus personatus

French: Ptéronote masqué / German: Kleine \WWagnerSchnurrbartfledermaus / Spanish: Pteronotus de Wagner

Other common names: Lesser Mustached Bat

Taxonomy. Chilonycteris personata Wagner, 1843 ,

“ Mato grosso [sic],” Brazil. Restricted byJ. A. Wagner in 1847 to “St. Vincente [= Sao Vicente] in der Provinz Mato grosso [sic],” Brazil.

J. D. Smith in 1972 recognized two subspecies of P. personatus : P. p. personatus and P. p. psilotis . Molecular and morphometric studies have shown that P. personatus represents a species complex, supporting elevation of psilotis to a distinct species. Hence, P. personatus sensu stricto occurs in South America; its distribution possibly extends northward to Costa Rica at the border with Nicaragua, but phylogenetic status of the Central American and Colombian populations has not been assessed. Fossil records of P. personatus are reported from Tobago Island. Monotypic.

Distribution. From SW Nicaragua S through Costa Rica and Panama to NE & C Brazil, E Peru, and NE Bolivia including lowlands of Colombia and Venezuela, the Guianas, and Trinidad I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.45-55 mm, tail 16-21 mm, ear 12-19 mm, hindfoot 8:5—-12 mm, forearm 43-48 mm; weight 6-5-10 g. Wagner’s Lesser Mustached Batis easily distinguished from other mormoopids occurring in sympatry based on small size and hair-covered back. Dorsal pelage varies from dark brown to reddish brown and ocherous. Ventral pelage is paler than on back and head. Ears are pointed, connected by two low ridges that meet on top of muzzle and form prominent rostral tubercle. Labionasal plate is simple, with typically smooth margin above nostrils. Skull is relatively flat in profile, with ovoid braincase. Condylo-basal lengths are 13-5-15 mm. Rostral breadth is usually equal to length of maxillary tooth row. Infraorbital foramen is located directly above anterior one-half of second upper molar. Lower incisors are reduced, inner pair is distinctly trilobed, and outer pair is weakly trilobed. There is non-linear variation in cranial size throughout the distribution, with individuals from Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia averaging larger than individuals from Venezuela and Trinidad Island, and individuals from Brazil increasing in size again.

Habitat. Tropical dry forests, rainforests, and gallery forests. Wagner’s Lesser Mustached Bat also occurs in areas of humid subtropical forest in Peru. Its occurrence is probably restricted to sites that provide specific roosting requirements.

Food and Feeding. Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat feeds on insects, but there is no specific information available on prey itemsin its diet.

Breeding. Two pregnant Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bats were reported in May from Venezuela.

Activity patterns. Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat is most commonly reported foraging over water bodies or in dense vegetation near streams. Echolocation calls during search phase consist of short CF-FM pulses with c.5 milliseconds. Second harmonic is most intense, starting with initial CF component at ¢.80 kHz, followed by downward FM sweep, and ending in short CF component at ¢.65 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat has been reported roosting in hot caves in association with other mormoopids, particularly the Big Naked-backed Bat ( P. gymnonotus ).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Arias-Aguilar et al. (2018), Bernard et al. (2011), Bowles et al. (1979), Davalos (2006), Eshelman & Morgan (1985), GBIF Secretariat (2017), Goodwin & Greenhall (1961), Ibanez & Ochoa (1989), Montes et al. (2012), Ochoa & Ibanez (1985), Pavan & Marroig (2016), Rocha et al. (2011), Simmons & Conway (2001), Smith (1972), de la Torre & Medellin (2010), Wagner (1847).

Figures

1. Antllean Ghost-faced Bat (Mormoops blainuviller), 2. Peters’s Ghostfaced Bat (Mormoops megalophylla), 3. Davy’s Naked-backed Bat (Pteronotus davyi), 4. Thomas's Naked-backed Bat (Pteronotus fulvus), 5. Big Naked-backed Bat (Pteronotus gymnonotus), 6. Macleay’s Mustached Bat (Pleronotus macleayii), 7. Sooty Mustached Bat (Pleronotus quadridens), 8. Wagner's Lesser Mustached Bat (Pteronotus personatus), 9. Dobson’s Lesser Mustached Bat (Pteronotus psilotis), 10. Parnell’s Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus parnellii), 11. Hispaniolan Common Mustached Bat (Preronotus pusillus), 12. Puerto Rican Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus portoricensis), 13. Mexican Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus mexicanus), 14. Mesoamerican Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus mesoamericanus), 15. Allen’s Common Mustached Bat (Pleronotus fuscus), 16. Paraguana Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus paraguanensis), 17. Womurs Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus rubiginosus), 18. Amazonian Common Mustached Bat (Pteronotus alitonus)

Distribution. From SW Nicaragua S through Costa Rica and Panama to NE & C Brazil , E Peru , and NE Bolivia including lowlands of Colombia and Venezuela , the Guianas, and Trinidad I.