Monophyllus plethodon, G. S. Miller, 1900

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 511

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6458594

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6727112

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A687BC-FFAA-FFAA-13BC-FD8FFAC0FB13

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Monophyllus plethodon
status

 

47. View Plate 37: Phyllostomidae

Insular Single-leat Bat

Monophyllus plethodon View in CoL

French: Monophylle des Petites Antilles / German: Kleine-Antillen-Blattnase / Spanish: Mondfilo de las Pequenas Antillas

Other common names: Insular Long-tongued Bat, Lesser Antillean Long-tongued Bat

Taxonomy. Monophyllus plethodon G. S. Miller, 1900 View in CoL ,

St. Michael Parish, Barbados, Lesser Antilles.

Puerto Rican subspecies frater by H. E. Anthony in 1917 is known only from fossil material. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.p.plethodonG.S.Miller,1900—Barbados.

M. p. luciae G. S. Miller, 1902 — Lesser Antilles, from Anguilla to Saint Vincent Is. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 67-84 mm, tail 8-16 mm, ear 14-15 mm, hindfoot 12-13 mm, forearm 38-8-45-7 mm; weight 12-5-17-2 g. The Insular Single-leaf Batis is easily distinguished from other Antillean bat species based on long narrow snout, ending in small but clearly defined noseleaf. Tongue is exceedingly long. Ears appear proportional to head and are well separated over it. Fur is brownish to pale buffy tan. Dental formula of all species of Monophyllusis12/2, C1/1,P 2/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 34. Teeth are very small, with distorted W-pattern. Upper premolars are relatively crowded and separated by diastemaless than one-half the length of P°. Testes are 2-9-5 mm.

Habitat. Xeric areas as well as dense rainforests. Most often captured in or near fruit plantations, especially in banana groves. In Barbados, an individual was caught in a mist net stretched between buttresses under a bridge near a sugarcane field. The Insular Single-leaf Bat is not equally abundant throughout its distribution, perhaps because smaller populations occur on islands with more recent impact from hurricanes.

Food and Feeding. No information, but probably similar to Leach’s Single-leaf Bat ( M. redmani ), which feeds on nectar.

Breeding. Pregnant Insular Single-leaf Bats have been captured in March-April, lactating females in April-May and July, and post-lactating females in June-July. Females give birth to one young at a time.

Activity patterns. Based on its diet and close relationship to Leach’s Single-leaf Bat, the Insular Single-leaf Bat is expected to be nocturnal, beginning its activity well after sunset. It roosts in caves.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Most colonies of Insular Single-leaf Bats appear to be rather small, numbering hundreds of individuals. Small size of colonies and islands where it is found suggest that it disperses over short distances.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCNRed List. The Insular Single-leaf Bat is presumably common throughoutits restricted distribution. Its habitat is not considered to be as declining.

Bibliography. Anthony (1917), Genoways, Larsen, PA. et al. (2007), Genoways, Larsen, R.J. et al. (2011), Genoways, Pedersen et al. (2007), Grindal (2004), Homan & Jones (1975b), Larsen et al. (2006), Masson et al. (1990), Pedersen, Genoways, Morton, Johnson & Courts (2003), Pedersen, Genoways, Morton, Kwiecinski & Courts (2005), Pedersen, Larsen et al. (2018), Rodriguez-Duran & Davalos (2018), Timm & Genoways (2003).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Chiroptera

Family

Phyllostomidae

Genus

Monophyllus

Loc

Monophyllus plethodon

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier 2019
2019
Loc

Monophyllus plethodon

G. S. Miller 1900
1900
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