Neoplatymops mattogrossensis (Vieira, 1942)

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

Neoplatymops mattogrossensis (Vieira, 1942)

Summary of captures.

Seven females ( CMARF 2210–2216).

External measurements and weights.

TLB: 78.85 (73.00–82.00), TL: 29.16 (25.14–32.00), LHL: 5.95 (5.00–7.00), EL: 12.65 (10.00–13.95), W: 5.37 (5.00–6.60).

Morphological description.

Small granulations on the dorsal surface of the forearm (wart-like granular structures that represent a distinctive generic characteristic). Dorsal fur is pale brown, contrasting with the ventral coloration composed of hairs with yellowish brown tips and whitish bases. The head is dark brown, with the ears distinctly separated on the forehead (Fig. 12 ). There is a presence of long and conspicuous vibrissae at the bases of the fingers.

Skull flattened (Fig. 12 ). The sagittal crest is barely visible with magnification only in two specimens; in the remaining five, this structure is absent (Fig. 12 ). Lambdoidal crests are present and visible. Upper incisors project anteriorly, separated from each other and the canines. First upper and lower premolars are smaller than the other two homologous teeth. The slender mandible shows a high and triangular coronoid process with a rounded apex and a low condyle. Lower incisors are deeply bifid in six specimens and barely bifid in only one case. Some skull measurements are shown in Table 1 .

Identification.

The short forearm, the presence of granulations on the dorsal surface of the forearm, and the skull, which is flattened and relatively small, are diagnostic characteristics for individuals of this species ( Willig and Jones 1985).

Figures

Figure 12. Neoplatymops mattogrossensis (CMARF 2212 D) collected in the Caatinga (northeastern Brazil) A, B dorsal and ventral views of the skull in a female, in addition to lateral views C in three females (from the same locality) with different levels of development of the sagittal crest (indicated by the white arrow): absent (above); present but less developed and of lesser extent (medium); and present, more developed and covering a greater extent on the posterior portion of the skull (below). Scale bar 5 mm.