Leptonyctenis curasoae, G. S. Miller, 1900

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 513-514

54.

Southern LLong-nosed Bat

Leptonyctenis curasoae

French: Leptonyctéere de Curacao / German: Curacao-Blutenfledermaus / Spanish: Leptonicterio de Curacao

Other common names: Curacaoan Long-nosed Bat

Taxonomy. Leptonycteris curasoae G. S. Miller, 1900 ,

“ Curacao, West Indies.” Restricted by M. W. Lyon and W. H. Osgood in 1909 to “Willemstad, Curacao, West Indies.” Leptonycteris curasoae is the only allopatric species of Leptonycteris . Its nomenclatural history influenced knowledge of L. curasoae , given that L. yerbabuenae with a distribution in south-western USA, Mexico, and Central America, was considered part of L. curasoae for enough time for studies to be published under this name. Monotypic.

Distribution. Dry tropical areas of N & W Colombia, N & W Venezuela (including Margarita I), and Netherlands Antilles ( Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire Is).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 75-84 mm (no external tail), ear 16-18 mm, hindfoot 13-16 mm, forearm 51-55 mm; weight 21-26 g. The Southern [Long-nosed Bat is a medium-sized phyllostomid, large for a New World nectarfeeding bat and small for the genus Leptonycteris . Dorsum is pale brown to cinnamon-brown, with paler venter. Adult pelage is dense and short. Ears and wing membranes are dark brown. Face and snout are slightly elongated, and tongue is long, with hair-like papillae on its tip. Noseleaf small and triangular, and ears are small and broad. Lowerlip has V-shaped groove. Tail is minute and often overlooked. Uropatagium is narrow and almost completely naked Calcar is short. Third phalanx ofthird finger is shorter than 15 mm. Zygomatic arches are slender but complete. Dental formula of all species of Leptonycterisis 1 2/2, C 1/ P2/3,M2/2 (x2) = 30.

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Habitat. Semiarid and arid habitats, subject to annual fluctuations in temperature rainfall, or both, in thorn forest, spiny scrublands, cardon cactus forests, xeric scrub and tropical dry forests usually at elevations below 500 m but up to ¢. 1500 m.

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Food and Feeding. The Southern Long-nosed Bat feeds on nectar, pollen, and soft fruits of species of Cactaceae , Asparagaceae , Bombacaceae , Convolvulaceae , and Leguminosae. It lands on flowers or might hover for short periods to feed. More than 70% of ingested pollen grainsis assimilated and defecated empty, which gives it the most effective pollen digestibility index among bats. Diet is composed primarily of nectar and pollen of columnar cacti such as Stenocereus griseus, Pilosocereus lanuginosus and Cereus horrispinus, among others, and several trees such as Ceiba pentandra, Pseudobombax septenatum, and Bombacopsis fendleri (all Malvaceae ). Seventy to 100% offecal samples in Venezuela had pollen of columnar cacti, and 66% had pollen of papaya ( Carica papaya, Caricaceae ). The Southern Long-nosed Bat also eats pollen of Agave (Asparagaceae) and other plants. Females increase ingestion of pollen and nectar when they are lactating. Pollen composition in diets varies seasonally, related to the flowering patterns of plants in the area. Southern Long-nosed Bats are important pollinators of cacti and agaves in xerophytic habitats and Andean arid zones.

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Breeding. Female Southern Long-nosed Bats give birth to one young. Mating system is apparently polygynous. In northern Venezuela, Southern Long-nosed Bats mate in November-December and births peak in May, synchronized with onset of flowering season of columnar cacti. Lactation lasts c.2 months. Males create sebaceous patch on their backs where they deposit saliva, feces, urine, and other products and byproducts smearing themselves until an area of center of back appears oily and is smelly. This patch attracts females, and males with the most symmetrical patch tend to have fewer ectoparasites and presumably greater reproductive success.

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Activity patterns. Southern Long-nosed Bats tend to leave their roosts after sunset Because of their pollinivorous habits, they need to visit many flowers on many different cacti, trees, or agaves to fulfill energetic requirements. This means that they spend long periods flying each night. They roost in caves that are usually hot.

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Movements, Home range and Social organization. Colonies of Southern Long-nosed Bats can contain up to several thousand individuals, sexually segregated. Direct and indirect evidence indicates thatit is migratory, but not all subpopulations migrate annually. They share their roosts with many other bat species including mormoopids, phyllostomids, and noctilionids. Southern Long-nosed Bats can move between the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao and also to the Venezuelan state of Falcon on the mainland. Longest distance moved between captures (weeks apart) was 78 km between Bonaire and Aruba.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Rapid development of native habitats of the Southern Long-nosed Bat, particularly along coasts, is the primary threat, and most ofits distribution is under protection.

Bibliography. Arita & Humphrey (1988), Cole & Wilson (2006a), Handley (1976), Lyon & Osgood (1909), Martino, Aranguren & Arends (2002), Martino, Arends & Aranguren (1998), Munoz-Romo et al. (2011), Petit (1997), Sanchez & Cadena (1999), Simal et al. (2015), Smith & Genoways (1974).

Figures

47. Insular Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus plethodon), 48. Leach’s Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus redmani), 49. Commissaris’s L. ong-tongued Bat (Glossophaga commissaris), 50. Western Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga morenoi), 51. Gray's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga leachii), 52. Miller's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga longirostris), 53. Pallas’s Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga soricina), 54. Southern LLong-nosed Bat (Leptonyctenis curasoae), 55. Greater Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris nivalis), 56. Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), 57. Antillean Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla cavernarum), 58. Cuban Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla nana), 59. Jamaican Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla), 60. Cuban Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi), 61. Brown Flower Bat (Erophylla bombifrons), 62. Buffy Flower Bat (Erophylla sezekorni)

Distribution. Dry tropical areas of N & W Colombia , N & W Venezuela (including Margarita I), and Netherlands Antilles ( Aruba , Curacao , and Bonaire Is).