Anoura fistulata, Muchhala, Mena & Albuja, 2005

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 520

66.

Tube-lipped Tailless Bat

Anoura fistulata

French: Anoura a longues lévres / German: Rohrenlippen-Langnasenfledermaus / Spanish: Anoura de labio largo

Other common names: Long-lipped Bat, Long-lipped Tailless Bat

Taxonomy. Anoura fistulata Muchhala, Mena & Albuja, 2005 ,

Condor Mirador of the Cordillera del Condor, 1750 m, Zamora Chinchipe Province, Ecuador.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Andean slopes in Ecuador and E slopes of Andes in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 57-67 mm, tail + 7 mm, ear 12-17 mm, hindfoot 7-12 mm, forearm 35-40 mm; weight 9-17 g. The Tube-lipped Tailless Bat has dense, silky, long fur, with two colored bands: terminal band dark brown and basal band white to cream. Ventral hairs are paler than dorsal hairs. Snout has many long vibrissae. Its unusually long tongue (6-8 cm), with distal patches of hair-like papillae, and conspicuously longer lower lip (extending 3-3—-4-8 mm beyond upper lip) distinguish the Tube-lipped Tailless Bat from other species of Anoura . Its size is intermediate between that of the smaller Tailed Tailless Bat ( A. caudifer ) and the larger Geoffroy’s Tailless Bat ( A. geoffroyi ). Along with size, the Tube-lipped Tailless Bat can be distinguished from Geoffroy’s Tailless Bat by its conspicuously longer lower lip and obvious tail that protrudes slightly from uropatagium. The Tube-lipped Tailless Bat has a wide uropatagium, with an inverted V-shaped margin and sparse fringe of hairs along this margin. Because of confusion about its diagnostic characteristics, some geographical records could actually represent Tailed Tailless Bats or Ecuadorian Tailless Bats ( A. aequatoris ).

Habitat. Montane cloud forests at elevations of 1300-1890 m on eastern slopes and 2000-2275 m on western slopes, secondary forests, and disrupted open areas with grass and shrubs.

Food and Feeding. L.ong snout and tongue of the Tube-lipped Tailless Bat indicatesit specializes on nectar, particularly from flowers with deep ( Centropogon nigricans, Campanulaceae ) or large ( Aphelandra acanthus, Acanthaceae ; Markea sp., Solanaceae ; Marcgravia coriacea, Macgraviaceae; Meriania sp., Melastomataceae ; Pitcairnia brongniartiana, Bromeliaceae ) corollas. Lepidopteran and remains of other unidentified insects have also been found in diets. Research on feeding habits in a cloud forest in Ecuador showed that Tube-lipped Tailless Bats visit A. acanthus less regularly than Geoffroy’s Tailless Bats. Long tongue of the Tube-lipped Tailless Bat suggests a strong coevolution with C. nigricans as its sole pollinator.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Tube-lipped Tailless Bat is nocturnal. Its only known roost is a cave at Numbala (Palanda Canton, Zamora Chinchipe Province, Ecuador), but roosts might also include hollow trees or crevices.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. There is not enough information about immediate threats to populations of Tube-lipped Tailless Bats to assessits conservation risks.

Bibliography. Aguirre, Mamani et al. (2010), Aguirre, Tarifa et al. (2018), Calderén-Acevedo & Muchhala (2018), Gérate-Bernardo & Carrasco-Rueda (2011), Griffiths & Gardner (2008a), Mantilla-Meluk & Baker (2008), Mantilla-Meluk, Siles & Aguirre (2014), Muchhala (2006a), Muchhala & Thomson (2009), Muchhala, Caiza et al. (2008), Muchhala, Mena & Albuja (2005), Solari (2018d), Teran & Aguirre (2007a).

Figures

63. Tailed Tailless Bat (Anoura caudifer), 64. Ecuadorian Tailless Bat (Anowra aequatoris), 65. Cadena’s Tailless Bat (Anowra cadenai), 66. Tube-lipped Tailless Bat (Anoura fistulata), 67. Luis Manuel’s Tailless Bat (Anoura luismanueli), 68. Peruvian Tailless Bat (Anowra javier), 69. Handley’s Tailless Bat (Anoura cultrata), 70. Broad-toothed Tailless Bat (Anowra latidens), 71. Geoffroy’s Tailless Bat (Anoura geoffroy), 72. Tschudi’s Tailless Bat (Anoura peruana), 74. Godman’s Long-tailed Bat (Choeroniscus godmani), 75. Lesser Long-tailed Bat (Choeroniscus minor), 76. Greater Long-tailed Bat (Choeroniscus periosus), 77. Mexican Long-tongued Bat (Choeronycteris mexicana), 78. Capixaba Nectarfeeding Bat (Dryadonycteris capixaba), 79. Banana Bat (Musonycteris harrisoni), 80. Pale Brown Long-tongued Bat (Lichonycteris degener), 81. Dark Long-tongued Bat (Lichonycteris obscura), 82. Ega Long-tongued Bat (Scleronycteris ega)

Distribution. Andean slopes in Ecuador and E slopes of Andes in Colombia , Peru , and Bolivia .