Sturnira angeli, de la Torre, 1966

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Phyllostomidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-583 : 550

140.

Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bat

Sturnira angeli

French: Sturnire dAngel / German: Dominica-Gelbschulterfledermaus / Spanish: Sturniro de Angel

Other common names: Angel's Yellow-shouldered Bat, Guadeloupe Yellow-shouldered Bat

Taxonomy. Sturnira angeli de la Torre, 1966 ,

“ 6 mi. [= 9- 6 km] NE Roseau (1000 {fc [= 305 m]), St. Paul Parish, Dominica, Windward Islands, West Indies.”

Many other taxa were described from the Lesser Antilles, some of these relevant to S. angeli : S. thomas: by L. de la Torre and A. Schwartz in 1966 from Guadeloupe, being distinguished by the absence of M,; S. Lilium zygomaticus by J. K. Jones, Jr. and C.J. Phillips in 1976 from Martinique; and S. thomast vulcanensis by H. H. Genoways in 1998 from Monserrat. Molecular and morphological analyses recognized all these forms as a single taxonomic entity, for which the oldest name is S. angeli . Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to the Lesser Antilles, including Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Martinique Is.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 63-75 mm (tailless), ear 14-16 mm, hindfoot 12-15 mm, forearm 42-4-47-7 mm. Nospecific data are available for body weight. The Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bat is small and most similar to the Northern Yellowshouldered Bat ( S. parvidens ) and the Little Yellow-shouldered Bat ( S. Lilium ). Dorsum is dark grayish brown; hair has narrow white basal band (less than 1 mm), followed by relatively broad dark grayish brown band and equally broad buff band, and narrow very dark, reddish brown apical band. Underparts are dull dark brown; throat and ventral region are similarly colored; and hair has narrow white basal band, followed by broad dark brown band, and terminating in dull grayish brown band. Dark epibasal band on dorsum becomes paler and narrower anteriorly, while subterminal band increases in width and becomes paler. Muzzleis blunt, and forehead is rounded. Shoulder areas can be clearly tinged in reddish or light brown or not. Forearm is thinly haired on dorsal surface. Uropatagium is densely covered with short hairs. Skull is relatively long, braincase is small, and rostrumis elongated. I, and I, are trilobed (I, can be bilobated) and subequalin size. Lingual cusps (metaconid and entoconid) of M, and M, are low, rounded, ill-defined, and separated by shallow notch (variable character among populations). M, is missing in some populations.

Habitat. Small islands ofthe Lesser Antilles, including pristine dense forests, gallery forests, and secondary forests from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 610 m. Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bats have been netted in various types offorests and clearings and over streams.

Food and Feeding. The Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bat is expected to be predominantly frugivorous, eating fruits of Piper spp. ( Piperaceae ) and species of Solanaceae and Melastomataceae . Diet could include pollen and nectar.

Breeding. Pregnant Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bats have been found in March-April and June-July; lactating females were recordedin June and August-September. Although reproductive data are not extensive, pattern of reproduction is not inconsistent with a bimodal polyestry model suggestedfor mainland populations of Sturnira .

Activity patterns. Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bats were caught on clear and cloudy and rainy nights and early and late at night, suggesting continuous activity through most ofthe night. They were mostly caught in mist nets on the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. More information on ecology of the Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bat is necessary for an appropriate assessment ofits population status and to identify potential threats.

Bibliography. Baker, Genoways & Patton (1978), Gannon et al. (1989), Genoways (1998), Genoways et al. (2001), Hernandez-Canchola & Ledn-Paniagua (2017), Jones & Phillips (1976), Koopman (1968), de la Torre (1966), de la Torre & Schwartz (1966), Velazco & Patterson (2013).

Figures

119. Bidentate Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira bidens), 120. Lesser Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira nana), 121. Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira aratathomasi), 122. Honduran Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira hondurensis), 123. Burton's Yellow-shouldered Bat (Stwrnira burtonlimi), 124. Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira ludovici), 125. Adriana’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira adrianae), 126. Tschudi’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira oporaphilum), 127. Mistratoan Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira mistratensis), 128. Soriano’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira sorianoi), 129. Choco Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira koopmanhilli), 130. Talamancan Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira mordax), 131. Perla Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira perla), 132. Tilda’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira tildae), 133. Hairy Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira erythromos), 134. Bogota Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira bogotensis), 135. Greater Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira magna), 136. Northern Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira parvidens), 137. Baker's Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira bakeri), 138. Little Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira Lilium), 139. Gianna’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira giannae), 140. Dominica Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira angeli), 141. Paulson’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira paulsoni), 142. Luis’s Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira luisi)

Distribution. Endemic to the Lesser Antilles, including Montserrat , Guadeloupe , Dominica , and Martinique Is.