Monophyllus redmani, Leach, 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 : 511

48.

Leach’s Single-leat Bat

Monophyllus redmani

French: Monophylle de Redman / German: GroRRe-Antillen-Blattnase / Spanish: Mondéfilo de Redman

Other common names: Greater Antillean Long-tongued Bat, Leach’s Long-tongued Bat

Taxonomy. Monophyllus redmani Leach, 1821 ,

Jamaica.

Forms cubanus and ferreus named by G. S. Miller, Jr. in 1902 and 1918, respectively, are considered synonyms of subspecies clinedaphus. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.r.redmaniLeach,1821—Jamaica.

M.r.clinedaphusG.S.Miller,1900—Cuba,Hispaniola,GonaveI,SBahamas(AcklinsandCrookedIs),andCaicosIs.

M. r. portoricensis G. S. Miller, 1900 — Puerto Rico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 58-80 mm, tail 7-11 mm, ear 9-14 mm, hindfoot 11-14 mm, forearm 34-8-42-8 mm; weight 6-13-4 g. Subspecies vary markedly in size; Jamaican redmani is the largest, and Puerto Rican portoricensis is the smallest. Fur is short, 5-8 mm dorsally and 4-6 mm ventrally, gray to brownish gray, and notably lighter on venter, especially close to forearms. Tail is short, about one-half as long as femur and extends beyond reduced uropatagium. Calcar is reduced (3-6 mm). Leach’s Single-leaf Bat is easily distinguished from other Antillean bat species based on its long narrow snout, ending in small but clearly defined noseleaf. Tongue is exceedingly long, with bristlelike papillae on its distal part. Ears appear proportional to head and are well separated over it. Postorbital region is narrow, and zygomatic arches are complete. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 60, with metacentric and submetacentric autosomes. X-chromosome is submetacentric, and Y-chromosome is minute. Testes are 2—4 mm.

Habitat. Xeric and mesic habitats from 43 m below sea level (Cabritos Island in Enriquillo Lake, Hispaniola) to elevations of 1515 m ( Jamaica). Leach’s Single-leaf Bat appears to be common in Jamaica where it is regularly captured in mist nets, often over streams and in plantations.

Food and Feeding. L.each’s Single-leaf Bat has clear morphological specializations for consumption of nectar. It is frequently seen hovering in front of banana flowers that often drip nectar. In Cuba, G. Silva-Taboada in 1979 tasted contents of several stomachs, containing a translucent liquid, and reported that it was very sweet. Individuals covered with pollen have been captured in all four Greater Antilles. Feces and stomach contents contained 53-91% pollen. Although Leach’s Single-leaf Bat might be able to extract protein from pollen, insects are important sources of protein, particularly dipterans and lepidopterans because their delicate teeth are not well suited to crush hard-bodied insects. Fruits are also eaten in small amounts. Fewer than 25% offecal samples from Puerto Rico contain seeds. Pollen of silk-cotton trees, banana, palms, and columnar cacti, among others, are commonly found in stomachs and fur ofthis species. Even though flowers of columnar cacti in Puerto Rico, as elsewhere, have chiropterophily characteristics, including nocturnal anthesis, morphology, and amount and quality of nectar reward, diurnal organisms pollinate most columnar cacti on the island.

Breeding. Reproductive cycle might differ slightly among islands. It seems to follow a monoestrous pattern, giving birth to one, naked, pink-skinned young per parturition. It might be cyclically polyestrous, with small percentage of a population breeding twice, or latter in the year. In Cuba, pregnant females can be found in January-June and then again in October in smaller numbers. In Puerto Rico, pregnancy has been observed in February—July and then again in September—October in smaller numbers. Lactating females have only been observed in April-July. A highly synchronous cycle was reported in Jamaica, with gestation beginning in November, parturition in March-May, and lactation in March—July. Almost complete segregation of sexes in caves have been reported in Puerto Rico in March-May.

Activity patterns. Leach’s Single-leaf Bat nocturnal and begins activity 28-69 minutes after sunset. When it shares a cave with mormoopid bats,its activity often overlaps with the last mormoopid species to depart, using different exit routes. There is activity at cave entrances throughout the night, with returning activity ending 28-71 minutes before sunrise. Leach’s Single-leaf Bat is commonly captured in mist nets in understories. [t commonly roosts, and especially breeds, in caldaria of caves at more than 28°C. Nevertheless,it can be found at a wider range of temperatures than any other phyllostomid that roosts exclusively in caves. These variations in roost selection are likely to be accompanied by changes in roosting behavior. At caves with lower temperatures,it is likely to be found clustering or using solution cavities in small numbers.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Adults are sexually segregated in caves during parturition. Colonies as small as 15-20 individuals and as large as 500,000 individuals have been reported, but most colonies appear to be in the thousands of individuals. Colony size might require wide dispersal each night to obtain food. Leach’s Single-leaf Bat is often observed foraging far from any known cave, and it has been observed using abandoned military bunkers as night roosts during foraging, 6 km from the nearest known day roost. These observations suggest that it moves over long distances.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Leach’s Single-leaf Bat is considered common throughoutits restricted distribution. In the Bahamas,it appears to be locally extinct on Abaco, Andros, and New Providence. Also found in protected areas.

Bibliography. Gannon et al. (2005), Genoways et al. (2005), Homan & Jones (1975a), Mancina, Garcia-Rivera & Capote (2007), McNab (1976), Miller (1902a, 1918), Rivera-Marchand & Ackerman (2006), Rodriguez-Durén (1995, 2009), Rodriguez-Duran & Christenson (2012), Rodriguez-Durén & Feliciano-Robles (2016), Rodriguez-Durédn & Lewis (1987), Silva-Taboada (1979), Simmons (2005), Solari (2018c), Soto-Centeno (2004), Soto-Centeno et al. (2014), Speer et al. (2015), Timm & Genoways (2003).

Figures

47. Insular Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus plethodon), 48. Leach’s Single-leat Bat (Monophyllus redmani), 49. Commissaris’s L. ong-tongued Bat (Glossophaga commissaris), 50. Western Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga morenoi), 51. Gray's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga leachii), 52. Miller's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga longirostris), 53. Pallas’s Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga soricina), 54. Southern LLong-nosed Bat (Leptonyctenis curasoae), 55. Greater Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris nivalis), 56. Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), 57. Antillean Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla cavernarum), 58. Cuban Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla nana), 59. Jamaican Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla), 60. Cuban Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi), 61. Brown Flower Bat (Erophylla bombifrons), 62. Buffy Flower Bat (Erophylla sezekorni)

Subspecies and Distribution. M.r.redmaniLeach,1821—Jamaica. M.r.clinedaphusG.S.Miller,1900—Cuba,Hispaniola,GonaveI,SBahamas(AcklinsandCrookedIs),andCaicosIs. M. r. portoricensis G. S. Miller, 1900 — Puerto Rico .