Glossophaga commissarisi, Gardner, 1962

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 511-512

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Commissaris’s L. ong-tongued Bat

Glossophaga commissarisi

French: Glossophage de Commissaris / German: Commissaris-Blitenfledermaus / Spanish: Gloséfago de Commissaris

Other common names: Brown Long-tongued Bat

Taxonomy. Glossophaga commissarisi Gardner, 1962 ,

“10 kms. S. E. Tonala, Chiapas, Mexico.” Three subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

G. c. commissarisi Gardner, 1962 — S Mexico (from Veracruz and Michoacan) through Central America to E Panama; possibly into W Colombia.

G. c. bakeri Webster & J. K. Jones, 1987 — Colombia, WC Guyana, Amazonian Ecuador, Peru, and W Brazil.

G. c. hespera Webster &J. K. Jones, 1982 — W Mexico from Sinaloa to at least Colima.

The species shows disjunct distribution with distributions ofthe three subspecies apparently not overlapping. Nevertheless, accurate identification ofthis species is a difficult task, and actual distribution could be different from what is known.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 42-61 mm, tail 4-11 mm, ear 11-16 mm, hindfoot 8-12 mm,forearm 32-35 mm; weight 8-11 g. Females tend to bejust slightly larger than males. Commissaris’s L.ong-tongued Bat is the smallest species of Glossophaga . Dorsal fur is cinnamon-brown to fuscous; ventralfur is brownish. It has moderately elongated rostrum and tongue that permits it to reach nearly 4 cm into flower calyces. Dental formula of all species of Glossophagais12/2,C1/1,P 2/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 34; there are small gaps among somewhat reduced lowerincisors. Because species of Glossophaga differ mainly in minute dental features that are notoriously difficult to see in live animals,it is extremely easy to misidentify sympatric speciesin the field. Nevertheless, when sympatric with any other species of long-tongued bat, Commissaris’s Long-tongued Bat is always smaller.

The three subspecies also differ in cranial and dental characteristics, pelage color, and size. Chromosomal complementof all species of Glossophaga has 2n = 32 and FN = 60.

Habitat. Wide variety of tropical and subtropical habitats, ranging from dry forests to evergreen rainforests, pine forests, and cloud forests, both under pristine and disturbed situations, from sea level up to ¢. 2000 m. Most individuals have been mistnetted across streams, creeks, and trails in forests or around fruit groves.

Food and Feeding. Commissaris’s Long-tongued Bats are primarily nectarivorous but also eat somefruits and insects. In north-eastern Costa Rica, they consumed nectar from 16 different plant species throughout the year and also fed on fruits when nectar was seasonally scarce. While some of these fruits (e.g. Piper auritum , Piperaceae and Cecropia insignis, Urticaceae ) were abundant throughoutthe year, some were only temporarily available (e.g. Vismia panamensis , Hypericaceae ). This species might opportunistically visit flowers that are not coevolved with bats, such as wind-pollinated flowers of Cecropia spp. where they apparently eat the rather abundant pollen. Compared to sympatric species, it seems to prefer flowers that are locally abundant or produce a lot of nectar, thus offering a high nectar density that permits efficient foraging with limited movement.

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Breeding. Reproductive pattern is bimodal in at least part of its distribution, with females in north-eastern Costa Rica found to reproduce repeatedly in consecutive reproductive periods. There are two peaks in births: January-April and July-November. Testes of males change in size during the year, reaching maximum size around start of the two lactating periods, corresponding to a postpartum estrus pattern.

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Activity patterns. Commissaris’s Long-tongued Bats are strictly nocturnal, leaving roosts after full darkness, and are most frequently collected before 21:00 h. They are known to roost in caves, culverts, houses, and hollow trees.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Commissaris’s Long-tongued Bats often roost in groups ofless than ten individuals but can form aggregations of at least 40 individuals. They seem to adapt home range size and nocturnalflight time to local resource density; i.e. individuals have larger home ranges and longerflight durations in areas with low resource levels.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Commissaris’s Long-tongued Bat seems to be rather flexible in foraging and roosting habits and seems to tolerate severely degraded habitats.

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Bibliography. Becker et al. (2010), Griffiths & Gardner (2008a), Lopez & Vaughan (2007), Reid (2009), Rothenwohrer et al. (2011), Tschapka (2004, 2005), Webster & Jones (1993).

Figures

Subspecies and Distribution. G. c. commissarisi Gardner, 1962 — S Mexico (from Veracruz and Michoacan) through Central America to E Panama ; possibly into W Colombia . G. c. bakeri Webster & J. K. Jones, 1987 — Colombia , WC Guyana , Amazonian Ecuador , Peru , and W Brazil . G. c. hespera Webster &J. K. Jones, 1982 — W Mexico from Sinaloa to at least Colima. The species shows disjunct distribution with distributions ofthe three subspecies apparently not overlapping. Nevertheless, accurate identification ofthis species is a difficult task, and actual distribution could be different from what is known.