Artibeus schwartzi (J.K. Jones, 1978)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 574-575

195.

Schwartz’s Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus schwartzi

French: Artibée de Schwartz / German: Schwartz-Fruchtvampir / Spanish: Artibeo de Schwartz

Taxonomy. Artibeus jamaicensis schwartz J. K. Jones, 1978 ,

“ Mesopotamia, 350 fi. [= 107 m], Charlotte Parish, St. Vincent (Lesser Antilles).”

Artibeus schwartzi is in subgenus Artibeus . It was long considered a subspecies, but its distinction was validated through phylogenetic analyses. Later,its possible hybrid origin was proposed, with nuclear genome resulting from admixture of genomes of extant species A. jamaicensis and A. planirostris . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from the Lesser Antilles, including St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, the Grenadines (Union and Carriacou), and Grenada Is.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 85-96 mm (tailless), ear 19-24 mm, hindfoot 18-22 mm, forearm 60-67 mm; weight 42-46 g. Schwartz’s Fruit-eating Batis large, with dorsal fur varying from dark brownish to grayish brown and hairs over shoulders paler. Furis short and dense. Facial stripes are grayish white and indistinct. Venter is dark brownish, washed with gray. Hairs have pale bases, dark subterminal band, and whitish or gray tips. Wings are brownish, paler at tips. Uropatagium is broad, with marked V-shaped groove, wide margin, and sparse hair. Dental formulas 12/2, C1/1,P 2/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 32. Skull is large and massive, lacking distinct supraorbital shield typical of the Great Fruit-eating Bat (A. lLituratus). M? is usually absent (only present in 12:9% of known specimens).

Habitat. Humid forests and mangroves but now mostly transformed landscapes with farmlands, fruit (banana) groves, and residential areas from sea level to elevations of c. 120 m. Schwartz’s Fruit-eating Bats is usually recorded near streams, wet areas, and fruit groves.

Food and Feeding. Schwartz's Fruit-eating Bat is primarily frugivorous.

Breeding. One juvenile and two subadult (non-reproductive) Schwartz’s Fruit-eating Bats were recorded at late August.

Activity patterns. Schwartz's Fruit-eating Bats are thought to roosts in caves and trees.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Schwartz's Fruit-eating Bats are gregarious.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Information on population status and distribution of Schwartz’s Fruit-eating Bat are lacking.

Bibliography. Jones (1978), Larsen, Hoofer et al. (2007), Larsen, Marchan-Rivadeneira & Baker (2010a), Pedersen et al. (2013), Pumo et al. (1996).

Figures

187. Brown Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus concolor), 188. Honduran Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus inopinatus), 189. Fraternal Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus fraterculus), 190. Hairy Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus hirsutus), 192. Ecuadorian Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus aequatorialis), 193. Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus jamaicenss), 194. Dark Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus obscurus), 195. Schwartz’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus schwartzi), 196. Great Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus lLituratus), 197. Large Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus amplus), 198. Flat-faced Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus planirostris), 199. Rosenberg’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus rosenberg), 200. Thomas's Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus watsoni), 201. Toltec Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus toltecus), 202. Pygmy Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus phaeotis), 203. Gervais’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus cinereus), 204. Andersen’s Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus anderseni), 205. Little Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus ravus), 206. Aztec Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus aztecus), 207. Bogota Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus bogotensis), 208. Silvery Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus glaucus), 209. Dwarf Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus gnomus), 210. Jamaican Fig-eating Bat (Ariteus flavescens), 211. Tree Bat (Ardops nichollsi), 212. Red Fruit Bat (Stenoderma rufum), 213. Wrinkle-faced Bat (Centurio senex), 214. Ipanema Broad-nosed Bat (Pygoderma bilabiatum), 215. Visored Bat (Sphaeronycteris toxophyllum), 216. Little White-shouldered Bat (Ametrida centurio), 217. Cuban Fig-eating Bat (Phyllops falcatus)

Distribution. Known only from the Lesser Antilles, including St. Kitts , Nevis , Montserrat , St. Lucia , St. Vincent , the Grenadines (Union and Carriacou), and Grenada Is.