Lonchorhina aurita, Tomes, 1863

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 497

18.

Common Sword-nosed Bat

Lonchorhina aurita

French: Lonchorhine de Tomes / German: Eigentliche Schwertnase / Spanish: Loncorino de Tomes

Other common names: Tomes's Sword-nosed Bat

Taxonomy. Lonchorhina aurita Tomes, 1863 ,

West Indies. Restricted by O. Thomas in 1893 to Trinidad.

Original description of L. aurita was based on material from the West Indies of unclear origin, which later was determined to be from Trinidad. While traditionally considered in the subfamily Phyllostominae , molecular data support placement of Lonchorhina in a monogeneric subfamily Lonchorhininae that is basal in Phyllostomidae . Some researchers consider subspecies synonymous because morphology does not support clear separation. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

L.a.auntaTomes,1863—fromSMexico(VeracruzandOaxaca)SthroughoutCentralAmericatoEEcuador,EPeru,NBoliviaandSEBrazilinSouthAmerica;alsoonTrinidadI.Norecentsupportfora1905recordfromNewProvidenceI,Bahamas.

L. a. occidentalis Anthony, 1923 — W Ecuador (Puente de Chimbo, Guayas Province).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 53-67 mm, tail 42-65 mm, ear 19-35 mm, hindfoot 13-15 mm, forearm 47-57 mm; weight 12-17 g. Fur of the Common Sword-nosed Bat is dark brown to reddish, probably related to roosting conditions. Species of Lonchorhina have very long ears and tragi. Among all phyllostomids, they have the longest noseleaves and most complex basal structures around nostrils. Calcar of the Common Sword-nosed Batis long and exceeds length of foot, and tail extends to posterior edge of long uropatagium—a characteristic shared among phyllostomids only with the Long-legged Bat ( Macrophyllum macrophyllum ). Dental formula for all species of Lonchorhinais 12/2, C 1/1, P 2/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 34. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 60.

Habitat. Various forested habitats from dry caatinga in Brazil to semideciduous lowland forest in Panama and lowland and pre-montane rainforests in Costa Rica from sea level to elevations above 1500 m. Common Sword-nosed Bats often occur near water bodies in primary and secondary forests but sometimes in more fragmented agricultural landscapes. They depend on caves for roosting but readily use anthropogenic cave-like structures, such as mines and dark culverts.

Food and Feeding. Recent evidence indicates that the Common Sword-nosed Batis, in contrast to most other carnivorous leaf-nosed bats, an aerial insectivore that predominantly captures flying moths—a behavior probably supported by long tail and uropatagium. It uses multiharmonic echolocation calls (highest energy mostly in third harmonic), which include initial short CF component followed by FM component. In more open habitats, it can also emit longercalls consisting only of CF component with very weak harmonics.

Breeding. Pregnant Common Sword-nosed Bats were found in February-March in Panama and in March in Mexico, indicating that pregnancy occurs mainly during dry season and births around onset of rainy season.

Activity patterns. Common Sword-nosed Batsstart their activity after full darkness and return to roosts well before dawn. Peak frequency of CF componentsis 45 kHz in Central America and c.50 kHz in north-eastern Brazil.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Common Sword-nosed Bats are widespread but generally not locally abundant. While there are reports of 500 individuals and more in one cave, most roosting groups are smaller. Roosts are regularly shared with other cave-dwelling species such as Parnell’s Mustached Bats ( Pteronotus parnelli ), Common Vampire Bats ( Desmodus rotundus ), Fringe-lipped Bats ( Trachops cirrhosus ), and Seba’s Short-tailed Bats ( Carollia perspicillata ).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. While Common Sword-nosed Bats appear to occur in a broad variety of habitats, including disturbed and undisturbed sites, dependence on dark caves and cave-like structures makes them potentially vulnerable.

Bibliography. Barros et al. (2009), Bloedel (1955), Dobson (1880a), Eisenberg & Redford (1999), Gessinger et al. (2019), Hernandez-Camacho & Cadena (1978), Jordan et al. (2014), Kalbantner (2018), Lassieur & Wilson (1989), Leal et al. (2018), Lopes & Ditchfield (2009), Medellin et al. (2008), Medina-Fitoria et al. (2007), Miller (1905), Solmsen (1985), Thomas (1893a).

Figures

1. Californian Leat-nosed Bat (Macrotus californicus), 2. Waterhouse’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus waterhousu), 3. Orange-throated Bat (Lampronycteris brachyotis), 4. Tiny Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris minuta), 5. Sanborn’s Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris sanborni), 6. Schmidts’ Big-eared Bat (Mucronycteris schmidtorum), 7. Yates’s Big-eared Bat (Micronycleris yaltest), 8. Hairy Big-eared Bat (Muicronycteris hirsuta), 9. Brosset’s Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris brosseti), 10. Giovanni's Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris giovanniae), 11. Matses Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris matses), 12. Litde Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris megalotis), 13. Common Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris microtis), 14. Saint Vincent Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris buriri), 15. Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus), 16. White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngii), 17. Hairy-legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecaudata), 18. Common Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina aurita), 19. Fernandez’s Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina fernandez), 20. Uncommon Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina inusitata), 21. Orinoco Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina orinocensis), 22. Chiribiquete Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina mankomara), 23. Marinkelle’s Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina marinkellei)

Subspecies and Distribution. L.a.auntaTomes,1863—fromSMexico(VeracruzandOaxaca)SthroughoutCentralAmericatoEEcuador,EPeru,NBoliviaandSEBrazilinSouthAmerica;alsoonTrinidadI.Norecentsupportfora1905recordfromNewProvidenceI,Bahamas. L. a. occidentalis Anthony, 1923 — W Ecuador (Puente de Chimbo, Guayas Province).