Cynomops planirostris (Peters, 1866)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Molossidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 598-672 : 640

52.

Southern Dog-faced Bat

Cynomops planirostris

French: Cynomope a ventre blanc / German: Amazonas-Bulldogfledermaus / Spanish: Cynomop de vientre blanco

Taxonomy. Molossus (Molossops) planirostris Peters, 1865 ,

“ British Guiana.” Based on lectotype selection, restricted by D. C. Carter and P. G. Nolan to “Cayenne,” French Guiana.

Cynomops paranus is here treated as a junior synonym of C. planirostris , based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses.

Monotypic.

Distribution. E of Andes in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and N Argentina.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 51-75 mm, tail 20-31 mm, ear 10-18 mm, hindfoot 5-11 mm, forearm 29-37 mm; weight 9-15 g. Males are larger than females. Dorsal pelage of the Southern Dog-faced Bat varies from light chocolate-brown to dark grayish brown, with ventral pelage much paler, at least in gular and mid-ventral areas, which are whitish or pale buff; pelage is silky, but dorsal fur is not long (c. 4 mm in shoulder region); dorsal hairs are weakly bicolored, with basal one-half pale buff. Face is blackish and virtually naked. Upper lip and dorsal border of narial region are smooth. Ears are triangular and blackish, slightly separated from each other on forehead (space less than 4 mm). Patagium, feet, and tail are also blackish. Propatagium is narrow, and posterior plagiopatagium is inserted lateral to base of feet. There is brown fur along basal one-third of forearm and along adjacent propatagium. A patch of fur extends from posterodorsal surface of distal plagiopatagium, next to wrist, to fourth dactylopatagium. Skull has anterior face of lacrimal ridge sloping smoothly to forehead. Incisive foramina are located close to accessory foramen, and arrangement of the three foramina (two incisive and one accessory) forms an equilateral triangle. Basisphenoid pits are shallow. Mandible is concave, and larger in males; a well-developed median ridge is present on lingualface of P,. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 34 and FN = 60 or 62.

Habitat. Tropical lowland rainforest from northern South America to Bolivia. Low to mid-elevations in the Atlantic rainforest, including humid and semideciduous types. Dry forests, including cerrado chaqueno and chiquitano, chaco, savannas of moxos, yungas, llanos, deciduous forests, and cerrado savanna of eastern Paraguay, and Brazilian cerrado and caatinga. The Southern Dog-faced Batis also found in floodable lands in Paraguay and Pantanal wetlands in Brazil. It is also present in secondary forests and urban areas. Lowlands and highlands from sea level up to elevations of 2500 m.

Food and Feeding. The Southern Dog-faced Batis an aerial insectivore.

Breeding. Pregnant females were reported between July and October, and in January. A lactating female was caught in February.

Activity patterns. The Southern Dog-faced Bat has usually been caught early in the night. It has been captured in ground-level mist nets set near streams, seasonal lagoons, artificial ponds, fruit trees, and pastures, and in canopy nets set 25 m high in primary forests. It has been found roosting in hollow trees, branches, hollow fence posts, lighting poles, snags, and human structures. In Brazil, a curious roost was found in a bovine horn that was attached to a fence stake. The general shape of the calls and their frequency are similar in the Southern Dog-faced Bat and in Freeman’s Dog-faced Bat ( Cynomops freemani), both calling at relatively high frequencies. The mean end frequency of low QCF calls in the Southern Dog-faced Bat is 21-1 kHz (+ 2-4 kHz SD).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Small colonies with up to eight individuals are commonly seen roosting. The Southern Dog-faced Bat has been recorded sharing roosts in hollow trees, but at separate sites inside, with individuals of the Dwarf Dog-faced Bat ( Molossops temminckii ) in Argentina, and with the Lesser Bulldog Bat (Noctilio albiventris) and Pale Spear-nosed Bat (Phyllostomus discolor) in Brazil.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Barquez et al. (1999), Brosset & Charles-Dominique (1991), Carter & Dolan (1978), Eger (2008), Fabian (2008), Fischer et al. (2015), Handley (1976), Idoeta et al. (2012), Jung et al. (2014), Leite-Silva et al. (2003), Lopez-Gonzélez (2004), Mares et al. (1981), Moras et al. (2016), Novaes et al. (2013), Passos et al. (2010), Santos et al. (2015), Sartore et al. (2017), Siles (2007a), Vizotto & Taddei (1976).

Figures

42. Mato Grosso Dog-faced Bat (Neoplatymops mattogrossensis), 43. Peale’s Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops aurispinosus), 44. Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus), 45. Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops laticaudatus), 46. Big Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops macrotis), 47. Equatorial Dog-faced Bat (Cabreramops aequatorianus), 48. Rufous Dog-faced Bat (Molossops neglectus), 49. Dwarf Dog-faced Bat (Molossops temmancku), 50. Freeman's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops freemani), 51. Mexican Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mexicanus), 52. Southern Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops planirostris), 53. Cinnamon Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops abrasus), 54. Greenhall’s Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops greenhalli), 55. Thomas's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops mastivus), 56. Miller's Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops milleri), 57. Waorani Dog-faced Bat (Cynomops tonkigui)

Distribution. E of Andes in Colombia , Venezuela , the Guianas, Peru , Bolivia , Brazil , Paraguay , and N Argentina .