Platalina genovensium, Thomas, 1928

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 532-533

101.

Long-snouted Bat

Platalina genovensium

French: Lonchophylle du Pérou / German: Langmaulfledermaus / Spanish: Platalino de Peru

Other common names: Peruvian Long-tongued Bat

Taxonomy. Platalina genovensium Thomas, 1928 ,

“neighbourhood of Lima,” Peru.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W Peru (from Piura to Tacna departments), an arid valley in NE Andes, and in extreme NW Chile.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 67-80 mm, tail 6-6-8 mm, ear 12-21 mm, hindfoot 12-18 mm, forearm 46-53 mm; weight 8-14 g (males) and 9-16 g (females). The Long-snouted Bat is a large nectar specialist, with highly derived feeding apparatus, acquired independently of other specialized nectar feeders (e.g. Choeroniscus ). Pelage is undifferentiated, and guard hairs are absent. Dorsalfur is pale and comparatively long; basal two-thirds of each hair is whitish, and terminal one-third is brown. It can be identified by greatly elongated muzzle, with numerous short vibrissae; long and sparsely furred uropatagium; and shorttail, about one-third the length of uropatagium. Central rib of noseleaf is absent, and internarial region of noseleaf is smooth. Rostrum is longer than braincase. Upper postcanine tooth rows are parallel rather than converging anteriorly. Upper and lower incisors are large, spatulated, and procumbent. Canines are slender and lack conspicuous cingulum. Premolars and molars are elongated, and upper molars lack paracone and mesostyle. Dentary is long, and lowerincisors are bicuspid. Dental formulais 12/2, C1/1,P2/3.M 3/3 (x2) = 34.

Habitat. Arid regions of Peruvian and Chilean coasts from near sea level to elevations of ¢. 2600 m. A Long-snouted Bat was found in an arid valley in the northeastern Andes (Huanuco Department). According to a potential distribution map, habitats of Long-snouted Bats contain xerophytic vegetation including columnar cacti, low annual rainfall (averaging 30-180 mm), and relatively low temperatures (9-15°C). Known roosts include tunnels, unused mines, and caves, always near food resources.

Food and Feeding. Limited field studies indicate that the Long-snouted Bat is a nectarivore and depends on flowers of columnar cacti ( Weberbauerocereus weberbaueri and W. rauhii, Cactaceae ) for nectar and pollen. Phenological data indicates year-round fruit and flower production of these cactus species. Other frequent dietary items include insects (c.60%) and seeds/fruit pulp (c.20%). The Long-snouted Bat could include another columnar cacti (e.g. Browningia candelaris) in its diet, but their local densities are usually very low.

Breeding. Pregnant Long-snouted Bats were captured in September-October; however, during a drought with reduced food resources in south-western Peru, no pregnant females were recorded for a two-year period.

Activity patterns. Long-snouted Bats are nocturnal. Echolocation calls have FM fast pulses of 1-3 milliseconds at extremely low intensity (-10 dB to 35 dB), in sequences of 12-9 pulses/second; bandwidth averages 28-6 kHz and is discontinuous, with average interpulses of 67-6 milliseconds and energy peaks at 89-2 kHz. Pulses present harmonic above 190 kHz.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Roosts of Long-snouted Bats consisted of only males or mixed-sex aggregations, with sex composition at each roost varying over time. Subadult males share roosts with any sex, but subadult females only occur in mixed aggregations. Sex ratio for adults is almost 1:1. Colony sizes reach up to 50-60 individuals (median of five). Within a roost, groups of 5-7 individuals were found at different microsites. Long-snouted Bats were permanent residents in a roost over a three-year period, but they will move under severe changes in resource abundance (drought or mines closure or activity).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Long-snouted Bat could be in significant decline and facing widespread habitat loss throughout much of its distribution, thus making it close to being Vulnerable. Due to limited locality records, evidence of small populations, and destruction of its habitats, it is listed as endangered by the Peruvian government.

Bibliography. Griffiths & Gardner (2008b), Jiménez & Péfaur (1982), Malo de Molina et al. (2011), Ossa etal. (2016), Parlos et al. (2014), Ruelas & Pacheco (2018), Sahley & Baraybar (1996), Simmons & Wetterer (2002), Velazco, Cadenillas et al. (2013), Woodman & Timm (2006).

Figures

83. Cadena’s Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris cadenai), 84. Dashe’s Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris dashe), 85. Patton’s Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris pationi), 86. Thomas's Nectar Bat (Hsunycteris thomasi), 87. Chestnut Long-tongued Bat (Lionycteris spurrelli), 88. Brazilian Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla mordax), 89. Chocoan Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla chocoana), 90. Goldman's Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla concava), 91. Pacific Forest Long-tongued Bat (Lonchophylla fornicata), 92. Orces’s Long-tongued Bat (Lonchophylla orcesi), 93. Western Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla hesperia), 94. Eastern Cordilleran Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla orienticollina), 95. Handley’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla handleyi), 96. Orange Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla robusta), 97. Dekeyser’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla dekeyseri), 98. Pale-bellied Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla inexpectata), 99. Bokermann’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla bokermanni), 100. Peracchi’s Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla peracchii), 101. Long-snouted Bat (Platalina genovensium), 102. Vieira’s Long-tongued Bat (Xeronycleris vierrai)

Distribution. W Peru (from Piura to Tacna departments), an arid valley in NE Andes, and in extreme NW Chile .