Pteronotus paraguanensis (Linares & Ojasti, 1974)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Mormoopidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 424-443 : 442-443

16.

Paraguana Common

Mustached Bat

Pteronotus paraguanensis

French: Ptéronote de Paraguana / German: Paraguana-Schnurrbartfledermaus / Spanish: Pteronotus de Paraguana

Other common names: Paraguana Mustached Bat

Taxonomy. Pleronotus parnellii paraguanensis Linares & Ojasti, 1974 ,

Cueva de Piedra Honda, 7 km SW Pueblo Nuevo, 120 m, Peninsula de Paraguana, Estado Falcon, Venezuela.

Pteronotus paraguanensis has been originally described as a subspecies of P. parnelli. In 2008, it received specific status based on morphometric evidence. Its phylogenetic position in the subgenus Phyllodia is unknown. Monotypic.

Distribution. Paraguana Peninsula, Falcon State, Venezuela.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c¢.61-64 mm, tail 17-26 mm, ear 19-24 mm, hindfoot 12-13 mm, forearm 52-6-55-8 mm; weight 12-17 g. It averages smaller in size, externally and cranially, than Allen’s Common Mustached Bat (P. fuscus) that inhabits mainland Venezuela. Fur color is pale yellowish brown. Skull is comparatively broad, with proportionally higher braincase. Condylo-basal lengths are 18-3— 19-5 mm. Additional external and cranial features shared with other species in the subgenus Phyllodia are listed in descriptive notes for Parnell’s Common Mustached Bat (PF. parnelli).

Habitat. Dense vegetation in tropical thorn forests at elevations of 0-120 m. The Paraguana Common Mustached Bat is known from only three caves, where it roosts in temperatures of 33-36°C. It is sensitive to temperatures below 20°C.

Food and Feeding. Paraguana Common Mustached Bats feed on a high diversity of prey from nine insect orders and two families of chelicerates. It has been reported that 62% ofits diet is composed of insects harmful to agriculture.

Breeding. Pregnant Paraguana Common Mustached Bats have been collected in July-September. They establish maternity roosts in two of the three caves where they are known to occur: Cueva del Guano and Cueva de Piedra Honda.

Activity patterns. Echolocation calls of the Paraguana Common Mustached Bat consist of long CF-FM pulses, with most energy at frequency of ¢.68 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Paraguana Common Mustached Bats are found in association with other mormoopids, including Davy’s Naked-backed Bat ( P. davyi ) and Peters’s Ghostfaced Bat ( Mormoops megalophylla ), the natalid Trinidadian Funnel-eared Bat (Natalus tumidirostris), and the phyllostomid Southern Longnosed Bat ( Leptonycteris curasoae). Movements of Paraguana Common Mustached Bats might be limited to flight within major forested areas of the peninsula; xeric vegetation of the Isthmus of Médanos would preclude dispersal to mainland. Males and females seem to roost in the same areas of caves during mating season, but sexual segregation occurs at least during part ofthe year.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Paraguana Common Mustached Bat has a small distribution and faces continuing decline in extent and quality of its habitat. Its known distribution is limited to only three caves, one of which is subject to frequent acts of vandalism (e.g. fires being lit in the cave with intent to destroy bats). Sexual segregation among caves, as consequence of the establishment of maternity roosts, is an additional threat because loss of one cave could kill most members of one sex or the other.

Bibliography. Bonaccorso et al. (1992), Gutiérrez & Molinari (2008), Linares & Ojasti (1974), Molinari et al. (2012), Pavan & Marroig (2016), Solari (2016a).

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. Paraguana Peninsula, Falcon State, Venezuela .