| Sturnira parvidens | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Genus: | Sturnira |
| Species: | S. parvidens |
| Binomial name | |
| Sturnira parvidens Goldman, 1917 | |
The little yellow-shouldered Mesoamerican bat (Sturnira parvidens) is a species of leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico and Central America.
It was described as a subspecies of the little yellow-shouldered bat (Sturnira lilium) in 1917 by American zoologist Edward Alphonso Goldman and given the trinomen S. lilium parvidens. The holotype had been collected in 1903 by Goldman and Edward William Nelson at "Papayo", given as 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Acapulco, Mexico. [2] The species name "parvidens" derives from Latin parvus, meaning "small", and dens, meaning "tooth". [3] The little yellow-shouldered bat has been recognized as a species complex, and some authors have considered S. parvidens as a separate species since 2000. In 2013, a genetic study further supported that it should be recognized as a full species. [4] It forms a clade with Sturnira bakeri . [5]
Sturnira parvidens is a medium-sized bat, with a head-body length of 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in) and weighing 12–19 g (0.42–0.67 oz). Individuals have a forearm length of approximately 41 mm (1.6 in). It has a short, broad head with large eyes and relatively short, rounded ears. It has a comparatively small nose-leaf, with an oval to lanceolate tip. The lower lip bears a central pad surrounded by a semi-circular row of wart-like structures. The main part of the wing membrane extends down to the ankles; the bat has no tail and only a vestigial tail membrane. [6] The wings have an aspect ratio of 6 and a wing loading of 12 kg/m2. [7]
It has small teeth. [8]
The fur is thick and soft, and can be dark grey, but is more commonly reddish or yellowish, with a distinct yellow patch over the shoulders in males. The fur of its back is dark brown, with individual hairs possessing three or four color bands. Its belly fur is paler in color with tricolored hairs. Its face is brownish-gray. [8] [6]
Sturnira parvidens is found from Sonora in the northwest and Tamaulipas in the northeast along both the eastern and western coastal slopes of central Mexico and throughout the whole of southern Mexico and Central America as far south as northern Costa Rica. [5] Within this range it inhabits a wide variety of forest types, elevations up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level. [1] [6] No geographic subspecies are currently recognized.
The bat is most commonly found in the sub-canopy or understory of tropical forests, close to water or agricultural land. It is more common in recently formed secondary forests, [9] and thus can serve as a useful indicator of forest disturbance. [10] It roosts in tree cavities or similar spaces, [11] either alone or in small groups that usually number no more than three. [12] It feeds on fruit, primarily from pioneer plants, [13] and is an important seed disperser in some areas. [14]
Females are polyestrous and can give birth to their single young at any time during the year, although there may be two or three peak reproductive periods per year in some localities, depending on the local climate. [6]
The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are bats found from southern North America to South America, specifically from the Southwest United States to northern Argentina. They are ecologically the most varied and diverse family within the order Chiroptera. Most species are insectivorous, but the phyllostomid bats include within their number true predatory species and frugivores. For example, the spectral bat, the largest bat in the Americas, eats vertebrate prey, including small, dove-sized birds. Members of this family have evolved to use food groups such as fruit, nectar, pollen, insects, frogs, other bats, and small vertebrates, and in the case of the vampire bats, even blood.
The spectral bat, also called the great false vampire bat, great spectral bat, American false vampire bat or Linnaeus's false vampire bat, is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is the only member of the genus Vampyrum; its closest living relative is the big-eared woolly bat. It is the largest bat species in the New World, as well as the largest carnivorous bat: its wingspan is 0.7–1.0 m (2.3–3.3 ft). It has a robust skull and teeth, with which it delivers a powerful bite to kill its prey. Birds are frequent prey items, though it may also consume rodents, insects, and other bats.
The Jamaican, common, or Mexican fruit bat is a frugivorous bat species native to the Neotropics.
The big-eared woolly bat or (Peters's) woolly false vampire bat is a species of bat, belonging to the family Phyllostomidae.
Geoffroy's tailless bat is a species of phyllostomid bat from the American tropics.
The Brazilian big-eyed bat is a species of phyllostomid bat from South America. The scientific name honours Italian naturalist Giacomo Doria.
The little yellow-shouldered bat is a bat species from South and Central America. It is a frugivore and an effective seed disperser.
The tent-making bat is an American leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae) found in lowland forests of Central and South America. This medium-sized bat has a gray coat with a pale white stripe running down the middle of the back. Its face is characterized by a fleshy noseleaf and four white stripes. Primarily a frugivore, it may supplement its diet with insects, flower parts, pollen, and nectar. Its common name comes from its curious behavior of constructing tents out of large, fan-shaped leaves. These roosts provide excellent protection from the tropical rains, and a single tent roost may house several bats at once. This bat is quite common in its geographic range; hence, its conservation status is listed as Least Concern.
The gray short-tailed bat, or Hahn's short-tailed bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae native to Mexico and Central America.
The Mexican long-tongued bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus Choeronycteris. The species is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States.
The southern long-nosed bat is a South American species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae.
The banana bat is an endangered species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is also commonly known as the trumpet-nosed bat or the Colima long-nosed bat.
Sturnira known as a yellow-shouldered bat or American epauleted bat, is a genus of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. The genus name comes from the Latin for "starling" and refers to HMS Starling, which took part in an 1836 voyage to Brazil during which the type specimen was collected. It contains the following species:
The Bogotá yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela at altitudes from 300 m to above 2000 m, particularly in cloud forest. The species is primarily frugivorous; it may also consume nectar and pollen.
The hairy yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae native to South America. There are no recognised subspecies.
The lesser yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is native to Peru and Ecuador. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Sturnira honurensis is a species of bat found in Central America. Previously, it was considered a subspecies of the highland yellow-shouldered bat, but it has been considered distinct since 2010.
Sturnira bakeri is a species of bat found in South-America.
Sturnira angeli, also known as the Guadeloupe yellow-shouldered bat or Angel's yellow-shouldered bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Antilles. As of 2018 it is listed as near threatened by the IUCN.
Paulson's yellow-shouldered bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Antilles. According to the most recent IUCN analysis in 2019, it is near-threatened.
