Cynomops greenhalli, G. G. Goodwin, 1958

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 640-641

54.

Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat

Cynomops greenhalli

French: Cynomope de Greenhall / German: Greenhall-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Cynomop de Greenhall

Taxonomy. Cynomops greenhalli G. G. Goodwin, 1958 ,

“Royal Botanic Gardens, Port of Spain, Trinidad.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known from scattered localities in lowlands of Central America, in Belize, N Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama, and N South America, in C Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Brazilian Amazon; also Trinidad I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 54-9-78 mm, tail 24-34 mm, ear 12-5-17 mm, hindfoot 6-12 mm, forearm 33-39-7 mm; weight 10-8-23-9 g. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat shows sexual dimorphism in size, males being larger; there are also size differences acrossits distribution, with populations from west of Andes larger than those east of Andes. It is very similar to Miller’s Dogfaced Bat (C. miller). Dorsal pelage is dark chocolate-brown to light reddish brown; venteris paler, with a conspicuous even paler portion from throat to mid-venter; pelage 1s silky, but dorsal fur is not long (c. 4 mm at shoulder); dorsal hairs are bicolored, with basal one-third pale buff. Face is blackish and virtually naked. Upper lip and dorsal border of narial region is smooth. Triangular blackish ears are slightly separated from each other on forehead (space less than 4 mm). Patagium, feet, and tail are also blackish. Propatagium is narrow, and posterior plagiopatagium is inserted lateral to base of feet. There 1s dark chocolate-brown or reddish-brown fur along basal one-third of forearm and along adjacent propatagium. A patch of fur extends from posterodorsal surface of distal plagiopatagium, next to wrist, to fourth dactylopatagium. Skull has a long rostrum with anterior face oflacrimal ridge forming abrupt angle with forehead. Nasal process of premaxilla is well developed, with lateral margin of external nares straight. Incisive foramina are located relatively distant from accessory foramen. Basisphenoid pits are absent, and there is a shallow fossa on posterior squamosal bone, where posterior zygomatic arch meets braincase. Mandible is massive in males with a concave ramus along its length; P, measures at least two-thirds the height of P,. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 34 and FN = 56 or 60.

Habitat. Tropical dry forests and lowland rainforests from Central America to northern South America, including the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The species is present in primary and secondary forests. Elevational range is from sea level to 975 m.

Food and Feeding. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat is an aerial insectivore, and insects of the orders Coleoptera , Hemiptera , and Hymenoptera (Formicidae) have been recorded in its diet in Costa Rica. In captivity, this species ate flying termites, while refusing a variety of other insects.

Breeding. Pregnant females were recorded in June, and lactating females in April and July. Females give birth to a single young.

Activity patterns. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat has been caught early in the night, and has been trapped in mist nets set over streams or ponds and in canopy nets set 20 m high. It is known to roost in buildings and hollow trees. A colony of eight individuals was caught from the hollow branches of a yellow Poui tree ( Tabebuia serratifolia , Bignoniaceae ) on Trinidad. This colony occupied the tree for at least six months before it was cut down. The bats emerged from the roost regularly each evening c.15 minutes before dark. They flew fast from the roost, downward, then upward, one bat following the other at intervals of c.1 second, until six of eight were in flight. About 15-20 minutes later some bats returned to the roost. The general shape of the calls of Cynomops species are similar, with Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bats calling at the lowest frequencies (mean end frequency of low QCF calls at 17-4 kHz + 3-6 kHz SD).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bats roost in colonies that can comprise 50-75 individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Bernard (2001), Eger (2008), Gardner et al. (1970), Goodwin (1958a), Goodwin & Greenhall (1961), Handley (1976), Jung et al. (2014), LaVal & Fitch (1977), Linares & Kiblisky (1969), Moras et al. (2018), Pineda et al. (2008), Tirira (2012b), Valdez & LaVal (1971), Warner et al. (1974).

Figures

42. Mato Grosso Dog-faced Bat (Neoplatymops mattogrossensis), 43. Peale’s Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops aurispinosus), 44. Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus), 45. Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops laticaudatus), 46. Big Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops macrotis), 47. Equatorial Dog-faced Bat (Cabreramops aequatorianus), 48. Rufous Dog-faced Bat (Molossops neglectus), 49. Dwarf Dog-faced Bat (Molossops temmancku), 50. Freeman's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops freemani), 51. Mexican Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mexicanus), 52. Southern Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops planirostris), 53. Cinnamon Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops abrasus), 54. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops greenhalli), 55. Thomas's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mastivus), 56. Miller's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops milleri), 57. Waorani Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops tonkigui)

Distribution. Known from scattered localities in lowlands of Central America, in Belize , N Honduras , Costa Rica , and Panama , and N South America, in C Colombia , Venezuela , Ecuador , and Brazilian Amazon; also Trinidad I.