Bat species that live in ecosystems from Boriken

Family Mormoopidae

Puerto Rican Mustached Bat

Pteronotus portoricensis Miller, 1902

Distribution: The Puerto Rican mustached bat is an endemic species of Puerto Rico. Some authors still consider it part of the Pteronotus parnellii complex.

Conservation status: According to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, in Puerto Rico it is classified as critical. On the IUCN Red List it appears as LC (Least Concern) (Least Concern) (Solari, S. 2016. Pteronotus parnellii. IUCN Red List of Species

Threatened 2016: e.T88017638A22077695).

Comments: This is a medium-sized bat, weighing about 10 to 17 grams. In Hispaniola and other countries where it is found, it can be a little larger than in Puerto Rico. The fur varies from dark gray to yellowish gray or cinnamon and shiny. The eyes are small and the ears are of moderate size. The uropatagium is wide and the lips are elaborate.

Lesser Mustached Bat

Distribution: The lesser mustached bat (Pteronotus quadridens) is an insectivorous bat endemic to the Greater Antilles (Rodríguez-Durán and Christenson, 2012).

Conservation status: According to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, in Puerto Rico it is classified as critical. On the IUCN Red List it appears as LC (Least Concern); (Miller, B., F. Reid, J. Arroyo-Cabrales, AD Cuaron and PC Grammon, 2016. Pteronotus quadridens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T18710A22076753).

Comments: It is a small bat, weighing about 4 to 7 grams. It is similar to the Greater Moustached Bat (Pteronotus parnellii), but smaller and its fur is silkier and greyer. Its ears are thinner and more pointed.

Pteronotus quadridens Gundlach, 1840

FAMILY PHYLLOSTOMIDAE

Mustached Flower Bat

Erophylla bombifrons Miller,1899

Distribution: Found only in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. In Puerto Rico, it is quite common in the karst of the north and south-east of the island.

Conservation status: According to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources in Puerto Rico, it is categorized as Vulnerable. On the IUCN Red List it appears as LC (Least Concern). (Rodríguez, A. and S. Incháustegui. 2008. Erophylla bombifrons. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T136247A4265042).

Comments: This is a medium-sized species, weighing 16 to 20 grams. The fur is short and amber, cream or light brown in colour. The snout is elongated with a very small nasal leaf. They live in caves. They feed mainly on nectar and fruit.

Long-tongued Bat

Distribution: It is found in the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. It has been recorded on Vieques Island and Mona Island.

Conservation status: According to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, in Puerto Rico it is categorized as vulnerable. On the IUCN Red List it appears as LC (Least Concern). (Rodríguez, A. and C. Mancina. 2008. Monophyllus redmani. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T13720A4354507).

Comments: It is a small bat, weighing about 6 to 10 grams. It shows the ability to hummingbird like the long-tongued bat. The snout is elongated and thin, with a noticeable but thin nasal flap. Its tongue is very long. The fur is dark grey, lighter on the ventral side. It feeds on fruit and nectar from flowers.

Monophyllus redmani Leach, 1821

FAMILY VESPERTILIONIDAE

Puerto Rican Common Bat

Eptesicus fuscus Palisot by Beavouis, 1796

Distribution: Common species in Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, but not in the Virgin Islands. It is also found in the American continent. It is an insectivorous species that forages in open spaces among vegetation.

Conservation status: According to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, in Puerto Rico it is categorized as Critical Element. In the IUCN Red List it appears as LC (Least Concern) (Miller, B., F. Reid, J. Arroyo-Cabrales, AD Cuarón and PC de Grammont. 2016. Eptesicus fuscus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T7928A22118197).

Comments: It is a medium-sized bat, weighing 13 to 17 grams. It has a wide and short snout, without a nasal leaf; medium-sized ears and conspicuous eyes. Dense, dark chocolate-colored fur; long tail included in the uropatagium.