Keyword: Nicaragua

Nuevos reportes sobre los murciélagos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) de Nicaragua, América Central, con la adición de siete nuevos registros de especies

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Recientes trabajos han resultado en la documentación de la presencia de siete nuevos registros de especies de murciélagos para la fauna de Nicaragua: Mimon cozumelae, Natalus lanatus, Nyctinomops laticaudatus, Perimyotis subflavus, Lasiurus cinereus, Lasiurus intermedius y Eptesicus brasiliensis. En este trabajo se formaliza la presencia de otras cuatro especies: Mormoops megalophylla, Phylloderma stenops, Thyroptera tricolor y Furipterus horrens, que, aunque fueron incluidas en el más reciente listado de mamíferos del país (Medina-Fitoria y Saldaña, 2012), no estaban apoyadas por ninguna publicación científica. Nuestro trabajo también confirma la presencia en el país de Cyttarops alecto, Lasiurus ega, Eptesicus fuscus y Antrozous dubiaquercus, especies únicamente conocidas a la fecha por un solo reporte. Adicionalmente, los registros de Perimyotis subflavus y Furipterus horrens constituyen una ampliación de su rango de distribución. Este trabajo actualiza la diversidad de murciélagos de Nicaragua en 61 géneros y 108 especies.

New reports on the bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) fauna of Nicaragua, Central America, with the addition of seven new species. As a product of recent studies, we document the presence of seven new bat species for the chiropterofauna of Nicaragua: Mimon cozumelae, Natalus lanatus, Perimyotis subflavus, Lasiurus cinereus, Lasiurus intermedius, Eptesicus brasiliensis and Nyctinomops laticaudatus. In this work, we verify the presence of four other species: Mormoops megalophylla, Phylloderma stenops, Thyroptera tricolor and Furipterus horrens, included in the latest list of mammals of the country (Medina-Fitoria and Saldaña, 2012) but not supported by a scientific publication. Our work also confirms the presence of Cyttarops alecto, Lasiurus ega, Eptesicus fuscus and Antrozous dubiaquercus in the country, species currently represented by only one record in Nicaragua. In addition, the herein newly reported records of Perymiotis subflavus and Furipterus horrens constitute an extension in its distribution. This work updates the diversity of bats of Nicaragua to 61 genera and 108 species.

Captures of the Tome’s sword-nosed bat, Lonchorhina aurita (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), from Ometepe Island, Nicaragua and range implications for this species

, , ,

Lonchorhina aurita (Tome’s sword-nosed bat) is a locally rare/restricted bat species distributed from the northerly ranges of Veracruz, Mexico to the South American countries of Brazil and Peru. Prior to our study on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, this species was documented from a single individual from 1 location in Nicaragua (Matiguás, Matagalpa). During 2010–2013, a total of 9 L. aurita were captured in tropical interior forests and agricultural forests with dense upper and midstory vegetation. L. aurita were captured from several locations on Ometepe Island and included reproductive adults and juveniles. Our data suggest that a persistent L. aurita population is established on Ometepe Island.

Capturas del murciélago nariz de sable de Tomes, Lonchorhina aurita (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), en la isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, e implicaciones para la distribución de esta especie. Lonchorhina aurita (murciélago nariz de sable de Tomes) es una especie rara de murciélago, restringida a localidades y distribuida desde el norte de Veracuz, en México, hasta Brasil y Perú. Antes de nuestro estudio en la Isla Ometepe de Nicaragua, esta especie solo había sido reportada en 1 localidad de Nicaragua (Matiguás, Matagalpa). Entre 2010 y 2013, se capturaron 9 L. aurita en bosques tropicales del interior y en estratos altos y medios de bosques agrícolas con vegetación densa. Los L. aurita fueron capturados en varios lugares de la Isla Ometepe, e incluyeron adultos en etapa reproductiva e individuos juveniles. Nuestros datos sugieren que una población persistente de L. aurita se ha establecido en la Isla Ometepe.

Mammals of the Cosigüina Peninsula of Nicaragua

,

Nicaragua’s Cosigüina Peninsula, located at the northwestern tip of the country, is one of the most poorly studied biotic regions in Central America. The peninsula has been
occupied for millennia because the climate of the region supported human habitation and because of its strategic position along the rich Pacific coast. The combination of long-term occupancy by humans and the cataclysmic eruptions of Volcán Cosigüina have produced a heavily impacted landscape. During the 1960s, the University of Kansas conducted multiyear field surveys of the terrestrial mammals on the peninsula and the adjacent mainland to quantify species diversity, relationships, abundances, habitat use, and reproduction. The mammalian fauna of the peninsula contains at least 39 species of terrestrial mammals, which includes 7 orders and 17 families. These include Didelphimorphia (2 species)—Didelphidae, 2; Chiroptera (22)—Emballonuridae, 2; Noctilionidae, 1; Mormoopidae, 1; Phyllostomidae, 12; Vespertilionidae, 3; Molossidae, 3; Carnivora (4)—Procyonidae, 1; Mustelidae, 1; Felidae, 2; Perissodactyla (1)—Tapiridae, 1; Artiodactyla (1)—Cervidae, 1; Rodentia (8)—Sciuridae, 1; Heteromyidae, 1; Muridae, 5; Dasyproctidae, 1; Lagomorpha (1)—Leporidae, 1. We provide new information on distributions, systematics, morphometrics, and natural history of the species of terrestrial mammals on the Cosigüina Peninsula, including a number of new records for the peninsula. We document that diversity and abundances of mammals can be substantial in a heavily impacted landscape. In comparison with five other mammalian faunas in Nicaragua, the Cosigüina fauna is most similar in size and diversity with those from elsewhere in the Pacific lowlands. The fauna from the Cordillera los Maribios, which is composed of the volcanic peaks along the eastern edge of the Pacific Lowlands, has the lowest number of species recorded for any of the six faunas with only 21 species recorded; however, this fauna may be under sampled or the unstable environments offered by these active volcanoes may not support a large or diverse mammalian fauna. The mammalian faunas from the remaining two physiographic regions of Nicaragua—Central Highlands and Atlantic Lowlands—have larger, more diverse faunas than that of the Cosigüina Peninsula and elsewhere in the Pacific lowlands. Three reserves in Nicaragua’s Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas now protect more than one fourth of the peninsula.

The Xenarthrans of Nicaragua

,

The mammalian fauna of Nicaragua includes seven species in the order Xenarthra, including the brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) in the family
Bradypodidae, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) in the family Megalonychidae, the northern naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous centralis) and nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the family Dasypodidae, and the silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) and northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) in the family Myrmecophagidae. Additionally, the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the family Myrmecophagidae is (or was) certainly part of the fauna of Nicaragua but has yet to be documented there. Based on 133 xenarthran specimens available in museums and our observations, we herein review and provide new information on distributions, systematics, morphometrics, and natural history of these species in Nicaragua. Replacement of the milk dentition in Dasypus novemcinctus is described and illustrated, documenting the most common adult dental formula of i 0/0, c 0/0, p 7/7, m 1/1 = 32.

Los Xenarthra de Nicaragua. La fauna mamífera de Nicaragua incluye siete especies del orden Xenarthra, incluyendo el perezoso de tres dedos (Bradypus variegatus) en la familia Bradypodidae, el perezoso (Choloepus hoffmanni) en la familia Megalonychidae, el armadillo zopilote (Cabassous centralis) y el cusuco (Dasypus novemcinctus) en la familia Dasypodidae, y el tapacara (Cyclopes didactylus) y el oso hormiguero (Tamandua mexicana) en la familia Myrmecophagidae. Además, el oso caballo (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) en la familia Myrmecophagidae es (o fue) ciertamente parte de la fauna de Nicaragua pero todavía no ha sido documentado allá. Basados en 133 especímenes de Xenarthra disponibles en museos y nuestras observaciones, revisamos y proveemos información nueva sobre distribuciones, sistemática, morfométrica y la historia natural de estas especies en Nicaragua. El reemplazo de la dentición láctea en Dasypus novemcinctus se describe e ilustra, documentando la fórmula dental adulta más común de i 0/0, c 0/0, p 7/7, m 1/1 = 32.