Xeronycteris vieirai, Gregorin & Ditchfield, 2005

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 533

102.

Vieira’s Long-tongued Bat

Xeronycteris vieirai

French: Lonchophylle de Vieira / German: Vieira-Langzungenfledermaus / Spanish: Xeronicterio de Vieira

Other common names: Vieira's Flower Bat

Taxonomy. Xeronycteris vieirai Gregorin & Ditchfield, 2005 ,

“Fazenda Espirito Santo, Municipio de Soledade, state of Paraiba, Brazil (07°05’S, 36°21'W).”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NE & E Brazil, from Rio Grande do Norte S to N Minas Gerais, apparently mostly restricted to Caatinga Tropical Dry Forest ecoregion.

Descriptive notes. Tail 6-6-8 mm, ear 10-12. 6 mm, hindfoot 10-8-13 mm, forearm 35-4-39-2 mm; weight 8-14 g (males) and 9-16 g (females). No other measurements are available. Vieira’s Long-tongued Bat is a medium-sized nectar specialist, with the most reduced dentition in the entire subfamily Lonchophyllinae . It is known from only few specimens. Dental formulais12/2,C1/1,P 2/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 34, although there is a report on a specimen with an additional (anterior) upper premolar.

Habitat. Mainly xeric shrubland and thorn forest with annual precipitation of 300-500 mm and rain falling only during short rainy season in April-June. Vieira’s Longtongued Bat might venture occasionally into other semiarid habitats close to caatinga (e.g. cerrado).

Food and Feeding. Dentition and limited observations indicate that Vieira’s Longtongued Bat is a rather strict nectarivore that visits flowers of columnar cacti (Pulosocereus pachycladus, Cactaceae ), terrestrial bromeliads ( Encholirium spectabile , Bromeliaceae ), trees ( Pseudobombax sp., Malvaceae ), and herbs ( Dicliptera sericea, Acanthaceae ).

Breeding. Reproduction of Vieira’s Long-tongued Bat seems to peak in dry season (June-December), although lactating females were observed in March.

Activity patterns. Activity of Vieira’s Long-tongued Bats starts quickly after nightfall, perhaps related to temporal patterns of nectar production.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Caatinga ecoregion, which is core habitat of Vieira’s Long-tongued Bat, is under anthropogenic pressure from slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production, and livestock grazing.

Bibliography. Cordero-Schmidt et al. (2017), Gomes et al. (2018), Gregorin & Ditchfield (2005), Nogueira, Gregorin & Peracchi (2014).

Figures

83. Cadena’s Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris cadenai), 84. Dashe’s Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris dashe), 85. Patton’s Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris pationi), 86. Thomas's Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris thomasi), 87. Chestnut Long-tongued Bat (Lionycteris spurrelli), 88. Brazilian Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla mordax), 89. Chocoan Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla chocoana), 90. Goldman's Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla concava), 91. Pacific Forest Long-tongued Bat (Lonchophylla fornicata), 92. Orces’s Long-tongued Bat (Lonchophylla orcesi), 93. Western Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla hesperia), 94. Eastern Cordilleran Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla orienticollina), 95. Handley’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla handleyi), 96. Orange Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla robusta), 97. Dekeyser’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla dekeyseri), 98. Pale-bellied Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla inexpectata), 99. Bokermann’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla bokermanni), 100. Peracchi’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla peracchii), 101. Long-snouted Bat (Platalina genovensium), 102. Vieira’s Long-tongued Bat (Xeronycleris vierrai)

Distribution. NE & E Brazil , from Rio Grande do Norte S to N Minas Gerais, apparently mostly restricted to Caatinga Tropical Dry Forest ecoregion.