Carollia brevicaudum (Schinz, 1821)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 536-537

108.

Silky Short-tailed Bat

Carollia brevicaudum

French: Carollia a queue courte / German: Seidige Kurzschwanzblattnase / Spanish: Carolia de Schinz

Taxonomy. Phyllostoma bernicaudum Schinz, 1821

(printer’s error for brevicaudum), type locality not given. Identified by M. P. zu Wied-Neuwied in 1826 as “Fazenda von Coroaba,” near Rio do Espirito Santo, Brazil.

Original spelling brevicaudum cannot be justifiably corrected to brevicauda and thus it should be retained. Carollia brevicaudum was considered a junior synonym of C. perspicillata according to W. L. Hahn in 1907.

R. J. Baker and colleagues in 2002 described Central American and Mexican populations previously under C. brevicaudum as C. sowelli . Carollia colombiana , described by C. A. Cuartas and colleagues in 2001, is not different of C. brevicaudum and became a junior synonym. R. H. Pine in 1972 and L. J. McLellan and K. F. Koopman in 2008 listed names previously used for C. brevicaudum. Monotypic.

Distribution. C Panama (Altos de Campana National Park) S into Colombia, then E to E & SE Brazil and S to Peru, and N Bolivia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 48-59 mm, tail 6-12 mm, ear 12-20 mm, hindfoot 11-14 mm, forearm 37-1-41-3 mm; weight 11-15 g. The Silky Short-tailed Batis intermediate in size between the smaller Gray Short-tailed Bat (C. subrufa ) and the larger Seba’s Short-tailed Bat ( C. perspicillata ), but several measurements overlap among these species. Dorsal fur is dark gray to dull gray-brown; there is no bright orange dorsal color as occurs in some populations of Seba’s Short-tailed Bat. Nevertheless, dorsal fur of the Silky Short-tailed Bat can be light brown (honey) or light chestnutbrown. Fur appears denser, longer, finer, and silkier (fluffier) than in similar species. Hair on nape of neck has broad dark basal band contrasting strongly with and thus sharply demarcated from medial broad whitish band. Narrower and darker subterminal band gives the Silky Short-tailed Bat its characteristic color, and hair tips are dirty white or buffy frosted. Forearm is hairy. Wing membranes are dark brown to blackish. Uropatagium is wide, enclosing short tail, and has a deep notch. Lower lip has central papilla surrounded by smaller warts in a U-shape. Ears are moderately large, broad, and triangular, with pointed tips. Rostrum is elongated, braincase is globular, and interorbital region is slightly inflated. Upper tooth rows are more curved and less crowded than in Seba’s Short-tailed Bat, with a tendency to show definite diastema between premolars. Lower jaw is U-shaped, and occlusal surface of I,is visible from above. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 20 (females) or 21 (males) and FN = 36. Females are XX and males XY|Y,; additional Y is the homolog of an autosome translocated to the X element.

Habitat. Humid tropical forests of the Trans-Andean, Amazonia, and Atlantic regions, including semideciduous formations, commonly below elevations of 1000 m but up to 2400 m. The Silky Short-tailed Bat is common through northern Amazonia and less common south of the Amazon River. It can also be found in savannas, cerrado, Pantanal wetlands, dry forests, and deciduous forests and even in urban areas and human-disturbed forests but at very low densities.

Food and Feeding. The Silky Short-tailed Batis generalist and eats small fruits, flowers, and insects in the understory. It is strongly associated with species of Piper (Piperaceae) and Solanum (Solanaceae) but also includes species of Cecropia (Urticaceae) , Vismia (Hypericaceae) , and Anthurium (Araceae) in its diet. Fruits of Ericaceae also become a useful resource for highland populations. It is the most important frugivore montane bat, consuming fruit from as many as 91 species from 27 genera in 15 families of plants across its elevational gradient.

Breeding. Available data indicate that female Silky Short-tailed Bats are pregnant in March and October, suggesting it is seasonally polyestrous. It could have two birth periods: one in the last one-half of the dry season and other in the middle of the wet season. Females have one young per pregnancy. At a colony under a bridge in northeastern Colombia, individuals formed stable harems, with 3-5 females for one male, which suggested a polygynous system; however,stability ofthis system could be affected by the type of roost (e.g. ephemeral or stable).

Activity patterns. The Silky Short-tailed Bat is usually active all night but shows clear peaks during the first couple of hours after sunset. Females become active earlier than males. Known roosts include hollow trees, caves, crevices, abandoned mines, culverts, and roofs or below houses.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Silky Short-tailed Bat uses understory vegetation, where it concentrates its feeding activity on fruits. Based on high recapture rates,it is assumed that home ranges are relatively small, but this could be a local rather than a general pattern. It can maintain large groups in caves or large roosts, and formation of harems does not seem the usual pattern. When it happens, male subadults group together as satellites to these harems. Stability of these harems depends on roost type, but there is no record of active defense ofsites within a roost or the roostitself. Roost fidelity seems higher for females.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Silky Short-tailed Bat is locally common, has a wide distribution, is relatively tolerant of a variety of habitats, and occurs in several protected areas throughout its distribution.

Bibliography. Allen (1890c), Baker & Bleier (1971), Baker et al. (2002), Castano et al. (2018), Cuartas et al. (2001), Fleming (1991), Fleming et al. (1972), Gallardo & Lizcano (2014), Gorchov et al. (1995), Hahn (1907), Hoffmann & Baker (2003), Hsu et al. (1968), Maguina et al. (2012), McLellan & Koopman (2008), Pine (1972), Reid (2009), Solari et al. (2006), Thies et al. (2006), Wied-Neuwied (1826), Wilson (1979), Zurc & Velazco (2010).

Figures

103. Ben Keith's Short-tailed Bat (Carollia benkeithi), 104. Chestnut Short-tailed Bat (Carollia castanea), 105. Gray Short-tailed Bat (Carollia subrufa), 106. Manu Short-tailed Bat (Carolia manu), 107. Sowell’s Short-tailed Bat (Carollia sowelli), 108. Silky Short-tailed Bat (Carollia brevicaudum), 109. Hernandez’s Short-tailed Bat (Carollia monohernandez), 110. Seba’s Short-tailed Bat (Carollia perspicillata), 111. Behn' ’ s Big-eared Bat (Glyphonycteris behnii), 112. Davies’s Big-eared Bat (Glyphonycteris daviesi), 113. Tricolored Big-eared Bat (Glyphonycteris sylvestris), 114. Niceforo’s Big-eared Bat (Trinycteris nicefori), 115. Least Big-eared Bat (Neonycteris pusilla), 116. Hairy Little Fruit Bat (Rhinmophylla alethina), 117. Fischer's Little Fruit Bat (Rhinophylla fischerae), 118. Dwarf Little Fruit Bat (Rhinophylla pumilio)

Distribution. C Panama (Altos de Campana National Park) S into Colombia , then E to E & SE Brazil and S to Peru , and N Bolivia .