Neonycteris pusilla (Sanborn, 1949)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 539

115.

Least Big-eared Bat

Neonycteris pusilla

French: Néonyctére nain / German: Kleinst-GroRohrblattanse / Spanish: Neonicterio pequeno

Taxonomy. Micronycteris (Neonycteris) pusilla Sanborn, 1949 ,

“Tahuapunta, Rio Vaupes,at the Colombian border, Amazonas, Brazil.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in W Amazonian Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Forearm 34-3 mm and greatest length ofskull 17-9 mm (holotype). No other measurements are available. The Least Big-eared Bat is small, with short tail and calcar shorter (7 mm) than foot. Noseleaf is blunt, and chin has two elongated dermal pads. Ears are rounded and fully separated from each other. Third metacarpalis the largest metacarpal bone, and fourth is shortest. Second phalanx of third digit (14-9 mm) is larger than first (10-8 mm); they are about equalin size in fourth digit (second phalanx 9-8 mm,first phalanx 8-7 mm). Ascending ramus of lower jaw has horizontally displaced border, with tip toward lateral plane. Upper premolars are reduced, and tip of P* is much shorter than that P°. Lower incisors are trlobed. Dental formula is12/2,C1/1,P 2/3. M 3/3 (2) =54.

Habitat. Amazonian forest (known only from holotype and topotype).

Food and Feeding. Based on morphology ofits teeth and skull and other shared characteristics with closely related Niceforo’s Big-eared Bat ( Trinycteris nicefori ), the Least Big-eared Bat probably feeds mostly on arthropods and, to a lesser extent, fruit.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Least Big-eared Bat is only known from two specimens collected in the 1940s, and because it occurs in an area experiencing habitat fragmentation, extent of its occurrence has probably declined.

Bibliography. Baker et al. (2016), Sanborn (1949a), Wetterer et al. (2000), Williams & Genoways (2008).

Figures

103. Ben Keith's Short-tailed Bat (Carollia benkeithi), 104. Chestnut Short-tailed Bat (Carollia castanea), 105. Gray Short-tailed Bat (Carollia subrufa), 106. Manu Short-tailed Bat (Carolia manu), 107. Sowell’s Short-tailed Bat (Carollia sowelli), 108. Silky Short-tailed Bat (Carollia brevicaudum), 109. Hernandez’s Short-tailed Bat (Carollia monohernandez), 110. Seba’s Short-tailed Bat (Carollia perspicillata), 111. Behn' ’ s Big-eared Bat (Glyphonycteris behnii), 112. Davies’s Big-eared Bat (Glyphonycteris daviesi), 113. Tricolored Big-eared Bat (Glyphonycteris sylvestris), 114. Niceforo’s Big-eared Bat (Trinycteris nicefori), 115. Least Big-eared Bat (Neonycteris pusilla), 116. Hairy Little Fruit Bat (Rhinmophylla alethina), 117. Fischer's Little Fruit Bat (Rhinophylla fischerae), 118. Dwarf Little Fruit Bat (Rhinophylla pumilio)

Distribution. Known only from type locality in W Amazonian Brazil .