Micronycteris giovanniae, R. J. Baker & Fonseca, 2007

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 493

10.

Giovanni's Big-eared Bat

Micronycteris giovanniae

French: Micronyctére de Giovanni / German: Giovanni-GroRohrblattnase / Spanish: Micronicterio de Giovanni

Taxonomy. Micronycteris giovanniae R. J. Baker & Fonseca, 2007 ,

“ Esmeraldas: E. San Lorenzo (toward Lita), Finca San José (01°3'32.1" N, 78°37' 20.7" W).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in N Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 55 mm, tail 16 mm, ear 21 mm, hindfoot 11 mm, forearm 37 mm; weight 8-6 g. Greatest length of skull is 20-9 mm (holotype). Species description was made from one specimen prepared as skin, skull, and skeleton; hence, descriptive notes reflect information of external and craniodental characteristics recovered from it. Giovanni’s Big-eared Bat is a medium-sized dark-bellied Micronycteris similar in size to the Saint Vincent Big-eared Bat (M. buriri) and Matses Big-eared Bat ( M. matses ) but smaller than the Hairy Big-eared Bat ( M. hirsuta ). Dorsal fur of Giovanni's Big-eared Bat is uniformly brown and bicolored, with pale bases and brown tips; however, pale bases are reduced on upper back and behind ears, covering only basal one-fifth of hair lengths; on shoulders, they extend over two-fifths of hair lengths. No pale bases are distinguishable in fur on lower dorsal region. In other species of Micronycteris , pale or white bases comprised one-quarter to one-half of hair lengths, uniformly on back and shoulders. Ventral fur is brown and does not clearly contrast with dorsal fur. Uropatagium, wings, forearms, and thumbs are naked. Dorsal hair is long but less than 7 mm, ventral hairis less than 6 mm, and hair behind ears and on inner border of earsis less than 5 mm. Ears are large and rounded, connected by transverse low band that extends across crown of head with evident notch in center of band, which is expected to be shallow, similar to what is seen in all its other darkbellied congeners (this characteristic is not distinguishable in skin voucher). Skull is robust, with elongated and slightly globular rostrum, which is longer than in the Little Big-eared Bat ( M. megalotis ) and Matses Big-eared Bat but less elongated than in the Hairy Big-eared Bat. Skull of Giovanni's Big-eared Bat has moderately developed sagittal crest and distinguishable lambdoidal crest. Mastoid process is slender and elongated, and it appears to slightly protrude from skull in superior view. Mastoid width is less than zygomatic width. Paroccipital processes are poorly developed and do not exceed occipital condyles. Maxillae are more inflated than in other dark-bellied species. I' are wider and more robust than those in Matses Big-eared Bat and the Little Big-eared Bat, and I* are small and convergent. Lower incisors are small, robust, bilobated, and not hypsodont. Giovanni’s Big-eared Bat has been distinguished from other species of Micronycteris by variation in cytochrome-b and intron 7 ofthe beta-fibrinogen gene (Fgb-17) sequences. These molecular analyses indicated that the holotype is most similar to Matses Big-eared Bat and related closely to a group that includes Little Bigeared Bats and Common Big-eared Bats ( M. microtis ). Uncorrected genetic distances between Giovanni's Big-eared Bat and other dark-bellied species range from 5-3% to 9:8% in the complete cytochrome-b gene and from 1% to 5:8% in the Fgb-17 marker. Chromosomal complement of Giovanni's Big-eared Bat has 2n = 40 and FN = 68, similar to that of the Little Big-eared Bat.

Habitat. Evergreen lowland forest of Ecuadorian coast (type locality), with typical vegetation from southern border of the Choco region. Plant community is dominated by species taller than 30 m, especially palms and species of Moraceae . Collection site of the holotype was a private farm consisting of secondary forest that was being deforested. Historically, this area has faced various pressures related to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and soil loss.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Giovanni's Big-eared Bat is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red List. Giovanni's Big-eared Bat is only known from one specimen.

Bibliography. Fonseca et al. (2007), Larsen et al. (2011).

Figures

1. Californian Leat-nosed Bat (Macrotus californicus), 2. Waterhouse’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus waterhousu), 3. Orange-throated Bat (Lampronycteris brachyotis), 4. Tiny Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris minuta), 5. Sanborn’s Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris sanborni), 6. Schmidts’ Big-eared Bat (Mucronycteris schmidtorum), 7. Yates’s Big-eared Bat (Micronycleris yaltest), 8. Hairy Big-eared Bat (Muicronycteris hirsuta), 9. Brosset’s Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris brosseti), 10. Giovanni's Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris giovanniae), 11. Matses Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris matses), 12. Litde Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris megalotis), 13. Common Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris microtis), 14. Saint Vincent Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris buriri), 15. Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus), 16. White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngii), 17. Hairy-legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecaudata), 18. Common Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina aurita), 19. Fernandez’s Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina fernandez), 20. Uncommon Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina inusitata), 21. Orinoco Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina orinocensis), 22. Chiribiquete Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina mankomara), 23. Marinkelle’s Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina marinkellei)

Distribution. Known only from type locality in N Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador .