Platyrrhinus helleri (Peters, 1866)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 563-564

167.

Heller's Broad-nosed Bat

Platyrrhinus helleri

French: Sténoderme de Heller / German: Heller-Breitnasenfledermaus / Spanish: Platirrino de Heller

Taxonomy. Vampyrops helleri Peters, 1866 ,

“ Mexico.”

Prior to a phylogenetic review by P. M.

Velazco and colleagues in 2010, P. heller: included populations assigned to P. incarum and to two new species from northern South America: P. angustirostris from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, and P. fusciventris from the Guianas, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Monotypic.

Distribution. From Oaxaca and Veracruz in S Mexico, S (but excluding N Yucatan Peninsula) through Central America to W & N Colombia, NW & N Venezuela, and W Ecuador.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 55-65 mm (tailless), ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 9-13 mm, forearm 37-41 mm; weight 11-21 g. Heller's Broad-nosed Batis fairly small, with relatively narrow and broad rostrum. Upperparts are pale to dark brown; hairs are unicolored. Narrow but conspicuous brilliant white back stripe extends from crown to rump. Facial stripes are broad and white, distinct and extending just beyond front of ear; lower facial stripe is less prominent. Ventral pelage is gray; hairs are typically unicolored on abdomen but sometimes with paler tips. Heller's Broad-nosed Bat has more distinctive facial markings and is smaller in size than other species of Platyrrhinus . Ears and noseleaf have cream or white edges, and tragusis short, triangular, and 25-33% oftotal length of ear. Proximal one-half of forearm is densely covered with short hair. Tail membrane is very short (3-5 mm), with distinct V-shape, and densely fringed with long whitish hairs. Upper surfaces of feet have long and moderately dense hair. Plagiopatagium attaches to metatarsal region similar to other stenodermatines. There is no tail. Upper incisors are unequal in size, convergent but not in contact. M' protocone is small and blunt. Twostylar cuspules occur on posterior cristid of P*. Only one stylid cuspulid occurs on anterior cristid of P,, but two occur on its posterior cristid.

Habitat. Evergreen and semideciduous forests, forest edges, and fruit groves in lowlands up to elevations up to 1500 m. In seasonally dry areas, Heller's Broad-nosed Bat 1s usually caught in mist nets set over or near streams.

Food and Feeding. Heller's Broad-nosed Bat is strongly frugivorous, but it eats pollen, nectar, and insects ( Lepidoptera ). Fruits of Centropogon (Campanulaceae) , Anthurium (Araceae) , Cecropia (Urticaceae) , and banana ( Musa , Musaceae ) are eaten. It was categorized as a canopy frugivore and eats fruits that grow on canopy and subcanopy trees. It is a fig ( Ficus , Moraceae ) specialist; the most important species consumed is E insipida.

Breeding. Pregnant Heller's Broad-nosed Bats have been found mostly in March-August (depending on locality). Its reproductive pattern is considered bimodal polyestry. First birth period begins during second one-half of dry season (March-April), and second birth period begins in middle of wet season (July-August). Females usually have one young per pregnancy.

Activity patterns. Heller’s Broad-nosed Batis probably active from late evening to c.1 hour before dawn. It roosts in small groups in caves, buildings, and tunnels and among foliage. It is known to build tents.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Heller's Broad-nosed Bat is considered fairly common throughout its distribution (sometimes abundant in Panama). No specific threats have been identified.

Bibliography. Allen, H. (1891), Arroyo-Cabrales & Reid (2016), Bonaccorso (1979), Fenton & Kunz (1977), Fleming et al. (1972), Gardner (2008c), Goldman (1920), Hall & Kelson (1959), Howell & Burch (1974), Husson (1962), Owen (1987), Reid (2009), Simmons (2005), Velazco (2005), Velazco & Patterson (2008), Velazco et al. (2010).

Figures

165. White-lined Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus lineatus), 166. Short-headed Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhainus brachycephalus), 167. Heller's Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus helleri), 168. Matapalo Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus matapalensis), 169. Recife Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus recifinus), 170. Guianan Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus guianensis), 171. Incan Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus incarum), 172. Slender Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus angustirostris), 173. Brown-bellied Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrriunus fuscrventris), 174. Alberico’s Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus albericoi), 175. Greater Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus vittatus), 176. Choco Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus chocoensis), 177. Thomas’s Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus dorsalis), 178. Bufty Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus infuscus), 179. Darien Broad-nosed Bat (Platyriunus aquilus), 180. Eldorado Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus aurarius), 181. Ismael’s Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus ismaeli), 182. Quechuan Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus masu), 183. Shadowy Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus umbratus), 184. Western Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus nitelinea), 185. Velvety Fruit-eating Bat (Enchisthenes hart), 186. Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba)

Distribution. From Oaxaca and Veracruz in S Mexico , S (but excluding N Yucatan Peninsula) through Central America to W & N Colombia , NW & N Venezuela , and W Ecuador .