Artibeus aztecus, K. Andersen, 1906

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 579

206.

Aztec Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus aztecus

French: Dermanure azteque / German: Azteken-Fruchtvampir / Spanish: Artibeo azteca

Taxonomy. Artibeus aztecus K. Andersen, 1906 ,

“Tetela del Volcan, Morelos, Mexico.”

Artibeus aztecus is placed in Dermanura by some authors but reassigned to Artibeus (subgenus Dermanura ) according to reinterpretation of molecular results. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

A.a.aztecusK.Andersen,1906—highlandssurroundingMexicanPlateauandSMexico(fromSinaloaandNuevoLeontoOaxaca).

A.a.majorW.B.Davis,1969—highlandsfromSCentralAmerica(CostaRicaandPanama).

A. a. minor W. B. Davis, 1969 — highlands from S Mexico to N Central America (Chiapas to Honduras).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 59-75 mm (tailless), ear 15-20 mm, hindfoot 11-14 mm, forearm 41-49 mm; weight 15-33 g. The Aztec Fruit-eating Bat is the largest species in the smallsize group in subgenus Dermanura . Dorsal fur is charcoal-brown to blackish; ventral fur is slightly paler, with faintly frosted tips; and dorsal fur is long (9-10 mm) and soft. Narrow whitish facial stripes are inconspicuous or absent. Ears and noseleaf are dark brown, and ears lack prominent white edging. Tail membrane is very short, narrow (less than 6-5 mm), deeply incised (V-shaped), and well haired dorsally, with conspicuous fringe of hairs on posterior border. Dental formulais12/2,C1/1,P2/2,M 2/2 (x2) = 28. I' are distinctly bilobated. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 30-31 and FN = 56, with Y,, Y, chromosome system (X-autosome fusion). X-chromosome is subtelocentric, and Y, and Y, chromosomes are acrocentric.

Habitat. Pine, pine-oak, and montane cloud forests; mango and banana plantations; tropical deciduous forest close to coniferous highland forests ( Sinaloa ), and relatively dry valley near Comayagua ( Honduras), at elevations of 600-3300 m in Mexico (more commonly above 1000 m).

Food and Feeding. In central Mexico, the Aztec Fruit-eating Bat eats wild figs ( Ficus spp., Moraceae ), capuli cherries ( Prunus serotine, Rosaceae ), cypress ( Cupressus sp., Cupressaceae ), and Mexican hawthorn ( Crataegus mexicana , Rosaceae ).

Breeding. Reproductive pattern of the Aztec Fruit-eating Bat is bimodal polyestry, with at least two birth periods per year in February-March and August-September. Pregnant females have been found with single embryos in March-April and July-August and lactating females at the end of August and in September. A juvenile male was captured in June and a young female carried by its mother in September. Young are precocial.

Activity patterns. Daytime roosts ofAztec Fruit-eating Bats have been reported on ventral surfaces of banana leaves, in small crevices and caves, and on rock outcroppings and limestone sinks. Aztec Fruit-eating Bats have been captured early in the evening; activity diminished by 22:00 h and increased again in early morning. They are locally uncommon, even in favorable habitat.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as [Least Concern on The UICNRed List (as Dermanura azteca ). The Aztec Fruit-eating Bat has a wide distribution and presumably large population. It occurs in protected areas,is tolerant to some degree of habitat modification, and is unlikely to be declining at a rate to justify a threatened status. No major threats have been identified.

Bibliography. Andersen (1906b), Davis (1969), LaVal & Rodriguez-Herrera (2002), Lopez & Ayala (2014), Reid (2009), Sanchez-Hernandez et al. (2016), Solari (2016d), Webster & Jones (1982a).

Figures

187. Brown Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus concolor), 188. Honduran Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus inopinatus), 189. Fraternal Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus fraterculus), 190. Hairy Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus hirsutus), 192. Ecuadorian Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus aequatorialis), 193. Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus jamaicenss), 194. Dark Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus obscurus), 195. Schwartz’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus schwartzi), 196. Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lLituratus), 197. Large Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus amplus), 198. Flat-faced Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus planirostris), 199. Rosenberg’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus rosenberg), 200. Thomas's Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus watsoni), 201. Toltec Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus toltecus), 202. Pygmy Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus phaeotis), 203. Gervais’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus cinereus), 204. Andersen’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus anderseni), 205. Little Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus ravus), 206. Aztec Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus aztecus), 207. Bogota Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus bogotensis), 208. Silvery Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus glaucus), 209. Dwarf Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus gnomus), 210. Jamaican Fig-eating Bat (Ariteus flavescens), 211. Tree Bat (Ardops nichollsi), 212. Red Fruit Bat (Stenoderma rufum), 213. Wrinkle-faced Bat (Centurio senex), 214. Ipanema Broad-nosed Bat (Pygoderma bilabiatum), 215. Visored Bat (Sphaeronycteris toxophyllum), 216. Little White-shouldered Bat (Ametrida centurio), 217. Cuban Fig-eating Bat (Phyllops falcatus)

Subspecies and Distribution. A.a.aztecusK.Andersen,1906—highlandssurroundingMexicanPlateauandSMexico(fromSinaloaandNuevoLeontoOaxaca). A.a.majorW.B.Davis,1969—highlandsfromSCentralAmerica(CostaRicaandPanama). A. a. minor W. B. Davis, 1969 — highlands from S Mexico to N Central America (Chiapas to Honduras ).