OCCASIONAL PAPERS

of the

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

—The University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

NUMBER 2APRIL 29, 1971

NOTEWORTHY RECORDS OF BATS FROM

NICARAGUA, WITH A CHECKLIST OF

THE CHIROPTERAN FAUNA OF THE COUNTRY

By

J. Knox Jones, Jr.,1 James Dale Smith,2

Ronald W. Turner3

Nicaragua occupies a strategic position in Central America with respect
to mammalian distributional patterns, but relatively little has been
published concerning the fauna of the country and its zoogeographic
relationships. The present paper records information on distribution,
variation, and natural history of 40 species of bats from Nicaragua, 14
of which are here recorded for the first time from the country.
Appended is a checklist of the chiropteran fauna of Nicaragua in which
only primary literature with actual reference to specimens from the
republic is cited.

The specimens upon which this report is based are, with few exceptions,
in the collections of the Museum of Natural History of The University
of Kansas. Some of our material was obtained in 1956 by J. R. and A. A.
Alcorn, field representatives of the Museum and sponsored by the Kansas
University Endowment Association; most of the specimens, however, were
obtained by field parties of which we were members that worked in
Nicaragua in 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968 under the aegis of a contract
(DA-49-193-MD-2215) between the U.S. Army Medical Research and
Development Command and The University of Kansas. Place-names
associated with localities mentioned in the text from which specimens
at Kansas were collected are plotted on Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.—Map of Nicaragua showing
location of place-names associated with specimens reported in this
paper. Localities, identified by number, are as follows: I,
Potosí; 2, Cosigüina; 3, Hda. Bellavista, Volcán Casita;
4, Chinandega; 5, San Antonio; 6, Jalapa; 7, Condega; 8, Yalí; 9,
Santa María de Ostuma; 10, San Ramón; 11, Matagalpa; 12,
Darío; 13, Esquipulas; 14, Santa Rosa; 15, Boaco; 16, Teustepe;
17, Tipitapa; 18, Sabana Grande; 19, Managua; 20, Cuapa; 21, Villa
Somoza; 22, Hato Grande; 23, Diriamba; 24, Guanacaste; 25, Mecatepe;
26, Nandaime; 27, Alta Gracia, Isla de Ometepe; 28, Mérida, Isla
de Ometepe; 29, Rivas; 30, San Juan del Sur; 31, Sapoá; 32,
Bonanza; 33, El Recreo; 34, Cara de Mono.

In the accounts that follow, departments in Nicaragua are listed
alphabetically, but localities within each department are arranged from
north to south; elevations are given in meters or feet, depending on
which was used on specimen labels. All specimens are in the Museum of
Natural History of The University of Kansas unless noted otherwise. We
are indebted to Drs. Charles O. Handley, Jr., and Ronald Pine of the
U.S. National Museum (USNM) for lending us certain critical specimens.

 1 Curator, Division of Mammals, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas.

 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, California State College, Fullerton, California.

 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, St. Benedicts College, Atchison, Kansas.

ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES

Saccopteryx leptura (Schreber, 1774)

Two specimens from El Paraíso, 1 km N Cosigüina, 20 m, Chinandega, on
the Cosigüina Peninsula, provide the fourth locality of record for this
white-lined bat in Nicaragua. Jones (1964a:506) and Davis et al.
(1964:375) earlier reported a total of eight specimens from the
departments of Managua and Zelaya. The species is known as far north in
Middle America as Chiapas (Carter et al., 1966:489).

Our two bats, both females, were shot on the evening of 1 March 1968 as
they foraged around a yard light. One carried an embryo that measured 8
mm (crown-rump), whereas the other was reproductively inactive.

Peropteryx macrotis macrotis (Wagner, 1843)

Four females (one young and three adult) captured 5 km N and 9 km E
Condega, 800 m, in Madriz, on 23 June 1964, provide the first record of
this small sac-winged species from Nicaragua. The bats were shot from
daytime roosts in small, well-lighted, cave-like spaces formed among
immense blocks of granite in a small patch of tropical deciduous forest
surrounded by extensive pine-oak woodland. None of the adult females
was reproductively active. Glossophaga soricina, Diphylla
ecaudata, and a large nursery colony of Desmodus rotundus
were found in association with the Peropteryx. Measurements of
our specimens agree closely with those reported for material from El
Salvador (Felten, 1955:284) and Costa Rica (Starrett and Casebeer,
1968:3-4).

Noctilio labialis labialis (Kerr, 1792)

This species has been reported previously from Nicaragua by several
authors. All our specimens were netted over small streams or shot as
they foraged; parts of scarabids and lepidopterans were found in the
mouths of several individuals shot at Finca Amayo. Twenty-six of 31
autopsied females taken in April were pregnant, each containing a
single embryo—average crown-rump length 16.7 (5-26) mm. Testes of 15
males collected in April had an average length of 4.6 (2-7) mm, those
of four taken in June, 5.2 (4-6) mm.

We follow Cabrera (1958:55), Husson (1962:63), and Handley (1966b:758)
in use of the subspecific name labialis, the type locality of
which is the "Mosquito shore" of Nicaragua, rather than Perú as
suggested by Hershkovitz (1949:433-434).

Noctilio leporinus mexicanus Goldman, 1915

This fish-eating species, first reported from Nicaragua by Davis et
al. (1964:376), apparently occurs throughout Middle America,
although known from the region by comparatively few records. We have 13
additional Nicaraguan specimens as listed above.

The two individuals (both females, one pregnant with an embryo that
measured 20 mm) from Potosí were caught on 6 March in a mist net set
over a large pool in a shallow estuarine stream; the mouth of the
stream opened into the Gulf of Fonseca approximately 200 yards below
our netting site. Other individuals of this species were observed as
they foraged over large pools formed at high tide near the mouth of the
stream. Our other specimens were caught in mist nets set over fresh
water streams near Lake Nicaragua or along the shores of the lake. A
female from near Alta Gracia, caught on 27 March, carried a single
embryo that measured 41 mm, whereas one from Finca Amayo was lactating
on 25 June. Four males taken on Isla de Ometepe in late March and early
April had a mean testicular length of 9.5 (8-10) mm.

Pteronotus davyi fulvus (Thomas, 1892)

This small naked-backed bat has not been reported previously from
Nicaragua. Autopsy of seven females collected on 9 May near San Ramón
revealed that four were pregnant, each with a single embryo—average
crown-rump length 25.0 (21-29) mm.

The distribution of P. davyi is poorly known in much of Central
America. The species was reported only recently from Costa Rica
(Starrett and Casebeer, 1968:8) and is unknown from Panamá. We assign
our specimens tentatively to the subspecies fulvus on geographic
grounds.

Pteronotus parnellii fuscus (J. A. Allen, 1911)

Although this species is widespread in Middle America, it has been
known previously from Nicaragua only by a specimen from "Chontales"
(Miller, 1902:402). All of our specimens were captured in mist nets.
Two adult females (one taken on 28 February and the other on 8 March)
each carried a single embryo (13 and 18 mm in crown-rump length,
respectively); a female taken in April was lactating and had a flaccid
uterus suggesting relatively recent parturition. Adult females captured
in the months of June, July, and August evidenced no sign of
reproductive activity. Two of these were in dark, fresh pelage, but one
captured on 24 June and another on 28 July were molting. In both
individuals, active molt evidently had slowed or subsided and remnants
of the old pelage (rich ochraceous orange) were confined to a narrow
strip at the lateral edges of the body.

We tentatively apply the subspecies name fuscus to our
Nicaraguan bats on geographic grounds; one of us (Smith) currently is
investigating geographic variation in the genus Pteronotus.

Pteronotus suapurensis (J. A. Allen, 1904)

This relatively poorly known monotypic species occurs from southern
Veracruz to the Amazon Basin. It has been reported from several
localities in Central America including one in Nicaragua (Goodwin,
1942a:88). Three pregnant females from near San Ramón (9 May) carried
embryos that had crown-rump lengths of 27, 27, and 28 mm, and two
netted on 24 April at Cara de Mono each had an embryo that measured 22
mm. All of our specimens are in bright pelage that is fulvous red in
color.

Micronycteris megalotis mexicana Miller, 1898

The individuals from Isla de Maíz Grande were shot on 30 June as they
flew from small caves and crevices in rocky outcrops on the south end
of the island. Of the three adult females obtained at that time, two
were lactating; each was accompanied by a young, the forearms of which
measured 19.7 (male) and 21.3 mm (female). Two adult males from Isla
del Maíz Grande had testes 2 mm in length.

Table 1.—Selected measurements of adults of two subspecies of
Micronycteris megalotis from Nicaragua. Superscript numbers
indicate fewer specimens averaged than indicated in left-hand column.

 aSpecimens labeled with reference to Darío, Diriamba, and Managua.

Four of the five specimens taken northwest of Diriamba were shot from a
daytime retreat in a culvert; the fifth was caught by hand as it
attempted to fly out of a hollow, fallen tree. Two adult females
captured on 31 March were pregnant, each carrying a single embryo (13
and 14 mm in crown-rump length), whereas two obtained on 14 August
showed no sign of reproductive activity. An adult male, also taken on
14 August, had testes 2 mm in length. Of three additional adult
females, one captured on 3 June was pregnant (embryo 21 mm in
crown-rump length), whereas two obtained on 14 April evinced no gross
reproductive activity.

The subspecies mexicana has not been reported previously from
Nicaragua, although Gardner et al. (1970:715) recently extended
its known distribution southward from Honduras (Goodwin, 1942c:124) and
El Salvador (Felten, 1956:180) to west-central Costa Rica. In
Nicaragua, as apparently in Costa Rica, mexicana occupies the
Pacific versant, the Caribbean lowlands being inhabited by the smaller
race, Micronycteris megalotis microtis Miller, 1898 (type
locality, Greytown, Nicaragua—reported also from "Río Coco,"
Nicaragua, by J. A. Allen, 1910:110). Nicaraguan examples of M. m.
mexicana are, on the average, considerably larger in cranial
dimensions and length of forearm than are specimens of M. m.
microtis (see Table 1). The series of microtis from "Río
Coco," probably from the headwaters of that stream in the vicinity of
San Juan de Río Coco and thus near the divide between Caribbean and
Pacific drainages, is intermediate in size between the two subspecies
and suggests intergradation between them. As noted also by Gardner
et al. (1970:715), we find no differences in length of ear
between microtis and mexicana (contrary to Miller's
claim, in the original description, that microtis had noticeably
smaller ears), nor do we note any consistent differences in color
between the two races on the basis of the specimens at hand.

Our specimens from Isla del Maíz Grande inexplicably agree rather
closely in size (average but slightly smaller) with specimens of M.
m. mexicana from western Nicaragua and elsewhere within the range
of the subspecies, and are tentatively, therefore, referred to
mexicana. Four specimens earlier reported (G. M. Allen,
1929:130) from the same island also are relatively large (forearm 35
mm). Further commentary on this insular population must await a time
when additional material is available from Central America.

Tonatia nicaraguae Goodwin, 1942

Only four specimens of this seemingly rare species have been recorded
previously from Nicaragua—one (the holotype) from Kanawa Creek, near
Cukra, north of Bluefields, 100 ft, Zelaya (Goodwin, 1942b:205),
another from 12.5 mi. S and 13 mi. E Rivas, 125 ft, Rivas (Davis and
Carter, 1962:67-68), and two from 6 km N Tuma, 500 m, Matagalpa (Valdez
and LaVal, 1971:248). Our specimens were caught in mist nets placed
over small, quiet streams that were fringed with tall, gallery forest.
The surrounding areas were savanna-like with small stands of secondary
forest. An adult male taken on 21 April had testes that measured 5 mm
in length, whereas those of another (9 August) were 3 mm.

Handley (1966b:761) synonymized T. nicaraguae with Tonatia
minuta Goodwin, 1942, a conclusion with which we agree. However,
the name nicaraguae (Goodwin, 1942b:205) has page priority over
minuta Goodwin (op. cit.:206) and is the valid name for the
species rather than minuta as used by Handley (see also LaVal,
1969:820; Gardner et al., 1970:716; Valdez and LaVal, 1971:248).

Measurements of the two males (that from Hato Grande listed first) are
as follows: total length, 63, 60 mm; length of tail, 5, 6 mm; length of
hind foot, 10, 9 mm; length of ear, 23, 23 mm; length of forearm, 34.5,
35.6 mm; weight, 11.4, 8.8 gms; greatest length of skull, 20.2, 20.5
mm; zygomatic breadth, 9.5, 9.5 mm; breadth of braincase, 8.5, 8.2 mm;
postorbital breadth, 3.1, 2.9 mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 7.0,
7.1 mm; breadth across upper molars, 6.3, 6.5 mm. We have not compared
our specimens directly with others from Middle America. On the basis of
available measurements, they resemble material reported from Honduras
(LaVal, 1969:820), averaging larger than other specimens for which
measurements have been published (see especially Goodwin, 1942b:206;
Davis and Carter, 1962:68; Davis et al., 1964:379; Gardner et
al., 1970:716-717).

Phyllostomus hastatus panamensis J. A. Allen, 1904

This large spear-nosed species has been reported previously from
Nicaragua only from Matagalpa (Goodwin, 1942c:126). Phyllostomus
hastatus evidently occurs throughout the country and is relatively
common in some places.

Two females taken 5 mi S Managua on 13 March each carried a single
embryo (crown-rump length 27 and 32 mm). Lactating females were
captured in June, July, and August.

Trachops cirrhosus coffini Goldman, 1925

A male fringe-lipped bat netted over a small stream at Cara de Mono, 50
m, Zelaya, in the Caribbean lowlands, on 24 April, 1968, constitutes
the second known occurrence of this species in Nicaragua. Carter et
al. (1966:491) earlier reported two males from Río Coco, 64 mi NNE
Jinotega, 1000 ft, Jinotega. The testes of our specimen were 4 mm long.

Davis and Carter (1962:69), Carter et al. (loc. cit.),
and Starrett and Casebeer (1968:11) did not apply a trinomen to bats of
this species and noted overlap of measurements between T. c.
cirrhosus (Spix) and T. c. coffini Goldman. However, until
detailed comparisons can be made, we follow Jones (1966:452) in
retaining the subspecific name coffini.

Chrotopterus auritus auritus (Peters, 1856)

An adult male captured in a mist net set in a forest clearing at Santa
María de Ostuma, 1250 m, Matagalpa, represents the first record of this
bat from Nicaragua. The testes of our individual, taken on 1 July 1966,
were 6 mm in length. Externally and cranially our Nicaraguan example
closely resembles specimens of C. auritus from Veracruz and the
Yucatán Peninsula. Handley (1966b:762) and Starrett and Casebeer
(1968:12) expressed doubt as to the validity of the currently used
subspecific names in this species. Comparisons of cranial and external
measurements of the material at hand with those given in various
published accounts—Burt and Stirton (1961), Starrett and Casebeer
(1968), and Thomas (1905), for example—reveal little variation. Until
additional information is available (especially as concerns the South
American races), however, we tentatively apply the subspecific name
C. a. auritus to Middle American populations.

Anoura geoffroyi lasiopyga (Peters, 1868)

Four specimens of this species, netted on 24 and 25 July 1967 in a
banana grove 1.5 km N and 1 km E Jalapa, 660 m, Nueva Segovia, provide
the first record of this glossophagine from Nicaragua. Two males each
had testes 6 mm in length; one female evidenced no reproduction
activity, whereas another carried an embryo 4 mm in crown-rump length.
In addition to our material, there is a specimen in the British Museum
(BM 8.6.22.4) from Cafetal "Concordia," 4000 ft, Jinotega.

It may be noteworthy that the two localities at which this bat is known
both are in the highlands of the northern part of Nicaragua, and that
we failed to take additional specimens in many hundreds of hours of
netting in other places in the country.

Choeroniscus godmani (Thomas, 1903)

Godman's bat was reported from Nicaragua by Handley (1966a:86), who
used the locality designation "El Realejo" for the three specimens
available to him. Actually, the three are from the nearby Hda. San
Isidro, 10 km S Chinandega. We have taken three additional specimens as
follows: Santa Rosa, 17 km N and 15 km E Boaco, 300 m, Boaco (an adult
female taken on 21 March, which was pregnant with an embryo measuring
16 mm in crown-rump length); 2 km E Yalí, 900 m, Jinotega (an adult
male netted on 3 August, testes 4 mm in length); and Santa María de
Ostuma, 1250 m, Matagalpa (a nonpregnant, adult female captured on 11
April). Bats of this species have been taken as far north as the
western Mexican state of Sinaloa (Jones, 1964b:510).

Lichonycteris obscura Thomas, 1895

Managua is the type locality of this rare long-nosed species and a
specimen was reported from 6 mi W Rama, 50 ft, Zelaya, by Davis et
al. (1964:380). Our collection contains three males, one from
Jalapa, 660 m, Nueva Segovia, captured on the night of 27 July 1967 as
it flew around a lighted room in a house, and two from the south side
of the Río Mico, El Recreo, 25 m, Zelaya, taken on 26 and 27 July 1966
(one was netted and the other caught by hand in the lighted room of a
building at night).

Selected measurements of the three males are, respectively: total
length, 55, 58, 57 mm; length of tail, 7, 10, 9 mm; length of hind
foot, 7, 9, 9 mm; length of ear, 10, 11, 11 mm; length of forearm,
30.9, 31.0, 30.8 mm; weight, 6.8, 6.8, 6.2 gms; length of testes, 1, 2,
2 mm; greatest length of skull, 18.5, 18.0, 17.9 mm; breadth of
braincase, 8.1, 8.4, 8.3 mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 5.7, 5.5,
5.7 mm.

Carollia castanea H. Allen, 1890

Bats of this species apparently are common in the Caribbean lowlands of
Nicaragua; the highest altitude at which we have taken specimens is 660
meters. The only previous report of C. castanea from Nicaragua
evidently is that of Davis et al. (1964:379), who mentioned it
in passing (from Cacao, Zelaya) in an account of Macrophyllum
macrophyllum. Two adult females each carried an embryo having
crown-rump lengths of 20 (21 March) and 10 mm (27 July). Adult females
evincing no gross reproductive activity were taken in February (one),
March (one), April (four), June (three), July (two), and August (two).
Four adult males netted on 24 April had testes with an average length
of 7.0 (5-9) mm, whereas those of four other adult males taken in late
June had an average of 4.0 (2-6) mm.

In our collections from Nicaragua, we find at least three kinds of
Carollia and we follow Handley (1966b:764-765) in tentatively
assigning these to C. castanea, C. subrufa, and C.
perspicillata. The systematics of this genus is currently under
study by Ronald H. Pine. In Nicaragua, castanea differs from
subrufa (with which it has been confused in the past) in being
smaller, both externally and cranially, and much darker in color as
well as in the additional characters mentioned by Handley (loc.
cit.).

Sturnira ludovici ludovici Anthony, 1924

An adult male (testes 6 mm) yellow-shouldered bat from Darailí, 5 km N
and 14 km E Condega, 940 m, in Madriz, provides the only specimen thus
far reported from Nicaragua. Sturnira ludovici evidently is
relatively rare in Nicaragua and may be confined to the highlands in
the north, whereas the smaller S. lilium is abundant throughout
the country and is the only other species of Sturnira
represented in our collections.

We provisionally refer our specimen to S. l. ludovici pending
Luis de la Torre's forthcoming review of the genus. Selected
measurements are: total length, 77 mm; length of hind foot, 15 mm;
length of ear, 19 mm; length of forearm, 44.8 mm; weight, 26.8 gms;
greatest length of skull, 24.2 mm; zygomatic breadth, 14.2 mm;
postorbital breadth, 6.3 mm; breadth of braincase, 10.5 mm; length of
maxillary toothrow, 6.8 mm.

Uroderma magnirostrum Davis, 1968

In the original description of U. magnirostrum, Davis (1968:680)
reported one specimen from Nicaragua—a female in our collection from 3
km N and 4 km W Sapoá, 40 m, Rivas. We have two additional specimens,
both from the relatively dry northwestern Departamento de Chinandega.
On 8 July 1966, a male (testes 2 mm) was netted under trees along a
small stream at San Antonio, 35 m, and a female (one embryo 28 mm in
crown-rump length) was netted on 4 March 1968 over a warm spring at a
place 4.5 km N Cosigüina, 15 m. Judging from published records, this
species is limited in Middle America to the Pacific versant.

Selected measurements of the three Nicaraguan specimens are,
respectively: total length, 65, 64, 67 mm; length of hind foot, 12, 11,
14 mm; length of ear, 16.5, 16, 18 mm; length of forearm, 42.2, 41.7,
45.2 mm; weight, 16.2, 13.8, 21.4 (pregnant) gms; greatest length of
skull, 22.7, 23.4, 23.8 mm; zygomatic breadth, 12.4, 12.9, 13.1 mm;
postorbital breadth, 5.8, 5.5, 5.9 mm; mastoid breadth, 10.9, 11.1,
11.1 mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 7.9, 8.1, 8.6 mm.

Vampyrops helleri Peters, 1866

Only two specimens of this small white-lined species have been reported
previously from Nicaragua—one from 1 km NW La Gatiada, 1300 ft,
Chontales (Davis et al., 1964:383), and the other from 3 mi NNW
Diriamba, Carazo (Jones, 1964a:507). This bat was relatively rare in
collections until the last decade or so. Handley (1966b:766) reported
V. helleri as abundant in the lowland areas of Panamá, and we
found the same to be true in Nicaragua. We suspect that future
investigations in Middle America will reveal this species to be a
common member of lowland tropical communities. It is known as far north
as southern Veracruz (Carter et al., 1966:494).

Most of our specimens were captured in mist nets set over small streams
bordered by gallery forest, or in banana groves. The range of
ecological conditions in which this species was taken is represented by
the semiarid environment of the Cosigüina Peninsula in northwestern
Nicaragua and the humid tropical forest (secondary growth) in the
vicinity of El Recreo in the Caribbean lowlands. Pregnant females were
captured in March, April, June, July, and August, indicating that this
species probably breeds throughout much of the year.

Vampyrodes major G. M. Allen, 1908

This large white-lined stenodermine was known previously from Nicaragua
by a single specimen from an unknown locality (J. A. Allen, 1910:112).
All of our specimens were caught in mist nets, which were set over
streams at Santa Rosa and near Villa Somoza, and in a banana grove at
El Recreo. Two pregnant females, captured on 11 and 13 July at Santa
Rosa, each carried an embryo (4 and 27 mm in crown-rump length,
respectively); one of two other adult females captured there on 9
August also had an embryo (35 mm in length) but the other evidently was
reproductively quiescent. Testes of adult males varied in length from 3
to 10 mm on the following dates (testicular lengths in parentheses): 25
February (10 mm); 21 March (8, 8 mm); 17 June (3, 4 mm); 13 July (6
mm); 27-28 July (4, 4 mm); 3 August (4 mm); 5 August (3 mm); 9 August
(4 mm).

We follow Starrett and Casebeer (1968:12) in the use of the specific
name major, rather than caraccioli as suggested by
Cabrera (1958), Goodwin and Greenhall (1961), and Handley (1966b).

Vampyressa nymphaea Thomas, 1909

A pregnant female (crown-rump length of embryo 5 mm) was captured in a
mist net set in a small banana grove on the south side of the Río Mico,
El Recreo, 25 m, in the Caribbean lowlands, on 27 February 1968. This
specimen provides the first record of the big yellow-eared bat from
Nicaragua. The species was recently reported for the first time from
Costa Rica (Gardner et al., 1970:721); it was characterized as
uncommon in Panamá by Handley (1966b:767). The one Costa Rican locality
of record also is in the Caribbean versant.

Selected external and cranial measurements of our female are: total
length, 58 mm; length of hind foot, 11 mm; length of ear, 16 mm; length
of forearm, 36.2 mm; weight, 12.3 gms; greatest length of skull, 21.1
mm; condylobasal length, 18.4 mm; zygomatic breadth, 12.3 mm; mastoid
breadth, 10.5 mm; breadth across canines, 4.6 mm; breadth of braincase,
9.4 mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 7.2 mm; length of mandibular
c-m3, 7.8 mm.

Vampyressa pusilla thyone Thomas, 1909

The only previous record of occurrence for the small yellow-eared bat
from Nicaragua is based on an adult female from Hda. La Cumplida, 670
m, Matagalpa (Starrett and de la Torre, 1964:60).

Two individuals taken near Esquipulas in mid-March, a pregnant female
(crown-rump length of embryo 16 mm) and a male (testes 4 mm), were
captured in nets set across trails cut through secondary forest. The
wind was quite strong in this area at the time of our visit and only a
few other species of bats—Glossophaga soricina, Artibeus
jamaicensis, A. toltecus, A. phaeotis, Uroderma
bilobatum, Sturnira lilium, Centurio senex, and
Diphylla ecaudata—were taken in the same nets. The specimens
from Boaco and Chontales were captured over small streams bordered by
gallery forest. Four females collected at Santa Rosa on 21 March were
pregnant; each carried a single embryo that measured 5, 18, 21, and 30
mm in crown-rump length; a male taken on the same date had testes that
measured 3 mm.

Selected external and cranial measurements of two males, followed by
the average (extremes in parentheses) of six females are: length of
forearm, 31.1, 30.8, 30.8 (30.0-31.4) mm; greatest length of skull,
18.9, 18.9, 18.5 (18.1-18.8) mm; zygomatic breadth, 11.0, 11.0, 10.6
(10.4-10.9) mm; mastoid breadth, 9.5, 9.2, 9.2 (9.0-9.3) mm; length of
maxillary toothrow, 6.1, 5.9, 5.9 (5.7-6.1) mm.

Chiroderma villosum jesupi J. A. Allen, 1900

This species has been reported in Middle America from as far north as
southern México. It evidently is uncommon in Costa Rica (see Gardner
et al., 1970:722) and Panamá (Handley, 1966b:767). Our material,
all collected from mist nets and consisting of 16 specimens from the
northwestern department of Chinandega and one from Isla de Ometepe in
Lago de Nicaragua, constitutes the first report of this bat from
Nicaragua.

Four of five females taken in early March were pregnant; embryos
averaged 26.0 (25-29) mm in crown-rump length. Four females taken in
July carried embryos 14, 20, 23, and 25 mm in length. Testes of five
adult males captured in March and April had an average length of 4.4
(3-7) mm, whereas those of two taken in July were 3 mm in length.

Artibeus toltecus hesperus Davis, 1969

When Davis (1969) named A. t. hesperus, he assigned specimens
only from as far south as El Salvador to the new subspecies, referring
the three Nicaraguan examples of the species at his disposal to the
nominal race. On the night of 6-7 April 1968, one of us (Smith) netted
bats on the south part of Isla de Ometepe at a place 2 km N and 3 km E
Mérida, 200 meters in elevation. One net was set across, and another
parallel to, a small, boulder-strewn stream; the surrounding area was
planted to coffee and had a good canopy of tall deciduous trees. Among
the bats captured at this location were 10 A. toltecus that are
referable to the subspecies hesperus, judging by their small
size (Table 2).

Six of our specimens are females and each carried an embryo (range in
crown-rump length 20-28 mm). Three adult males had testes 5, 6, and 7
mm in length. External measurements (extremes in parentheses) of our
series are: total length, 55.9 (51-60) mm; length of hind foot, 10.7
(10-12) mm; length of ear, 14.8 (14-16) mm; weight of four males, 9.9
(8.8-11.5) gms; weight of six pregnant females, 14.9 (12.7-16.9) gms.

Table 2.—Selected measurements of two subspecies of
Artibeus toltecus from Nicaragua.

Artibeus toltecus toltecus (Saussure, 1860)

This bat has been reported from Nicaragua previously by Andersen
(1908:300) and Davis (1969:28), based on a total of four specimens. We
netted this species at Santa María de Ostuma in patches of cloud forest
at a cafetal. The specimen from near Esquipulas was taken in a net
placed across a trail in second growth forest. Two females collected on
11 April and one taken on 30 June were pregnant (embryos 21, 26, and 12
mm, respectively, in crown-rump length). Testes of a male netted on 14
March were 7 mm in length, whereas those of two obtained on 11 April
measured 4 and 7 mm. Selected measurements of our six specimens are
given in Table 2.

Artibeus watsoni Thomas, 1901

Davis (1970a:393-394) recently reviewed the systematic status of this
small fruit-eating bat and recorded specimens from southeastern
Nicaragua; the species was first reported from the country by Andersen
(1908:290), based on a specimen from the Escondido River. Our
additional material reveals that A. watsoni occurs throughout
eastern Nicaragua, the specimen from Nueva Segovia extending the known
range as mapped by Davis (loc. cit.).

A female from Bonanza (23 February) carried an embryo 14 mm in
crown-rump length, whereas one from El Recreo (26 February) was not
reproductively active; one of two females netted near Villa Somoza in
early August was pregnant (embryo 21 mm in crown-rump length). Seven
adult males collected in late February and early March had an average
testicular length of 5.9 (5-7) mm; testes of two adults taken in late
June and one captured in early August all measured 5 mm. The testes of
young males (grayish pelage, partially unfused phalangeal epiphyses)
were 2 or 3 mm in length.

Centurio senex senex Gray, 1842

Paradiso (1967) reviewed geographic variation in this unique bat, the
type locality of which was restricted to Realejo, Chinandega,
Nicaragua, by Goodwin (1946:327). Because additional material had not
been reported from Nicaragua, Paradiso (op. cit.:598) felt it
was "premature to restrict the type locality to a specific area in that
country" (the holotype was obtained on the voyage of the H.M.S.
Sulphur, which called at Realejo), and preferred the more general
designation "west coast of Mexico or Central America." In view of the
fact that we now have specimens from but a few miles distant from
Realejo (at San Antonio), we see no reason to contest Goodwin's
restriction of the type locality to that place.

Specimens from San Antonio were collected along a small stream,
bordered by a bilevel gallery forest, in an area otherwise planted
mostly to cane. Many trees of the lower level were covered by an
extremely thick network of vines, which were interwoven with branches
and supported fallen leaves and debris from the upper level. This
situation led to formation of small "rooms" or "cubicles" under some
shorter trees; the bats were shot as they hung from small branches
under one such tree, which was in fruit. All of our other specimens
were captured in mist nets.

Pregnant females were taken on the following dates (crown-rump length
of embryo in parentheses): 25 February (12 mm), 2 March (17 mm), 15
March (14 mm); a nonpregnant female also was taken on 15 March. Five
males captured at San Antonio on 9 and 10 March had an average
testicular length of 5.6 (5-6) mm. A male taken in July had testes 4 mm
in length, whereas those of one obtained on 14 March were 5 mm long.

Selected measurements (average, with extremes in parentheses) of 11
adults (seven males and four females) are as follows: length of
forearm, 42.5 (41.5-43.7) mm; condylobasal length (10 specimens only),
14.8 (14.5-15.0) mm; zygomatic breadth, 14.8 (14.4-15.1) mm;
interorbital breadth, 5.0 (4.7-5.2) mm; breadth across upper molars,
10.6 (10.5-11.0) mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 5.0 (4.8-5.3) mm.
These measurements generally agree with those given by Paradiso
(1967:600) for 20 individuals from Panamá. Females in our series
average slightly larger than do males in external and cranial
measurements. Six males weighed an average of 22.9 (20.7-25.1) gms; one
nonpregnant female weighed 17.1 gms.

Diphylla ecaudata Spix, 1823

Our specimens constitute the first report of this species from
Nicaragua. We follow Burt and Stirton (1961:37) in regarding D.
ecaudata as monotypic.

Specimens from Los Cocos (three males and two females) were captured in
a mist net stretched across a large, quiet pool in a small stream. The
banks supported well-developed gallery forest, the understory of which
had been cleared for human habitation; grassland (grazed) and small
stands of secondary forest obtained beyond the riparian habitat.
Domestic ducks, a possible source of food, were observed sleeping along
the bank of this stream and on top of large boulders situated in the
stream. Males from this locality taken on 20 February, 4 April, and 18
July had testicular lengths of 5, 6, and 6.5 mm, respectively. Two
adult females collected there on 4 April were reproductively inactive.
An adult male (testes 6 mm) from near Condega was captured on 23 June
in a daytime roost in a small, cave-like crevice (see account of
Peropteryx marcotis), and one from northeast of Esquipulas
(testes 5 mm) was netted on 14 March along a forest trail (see account
of Vampyressa pusilla).

Natalus stramineus saturatus Dalquest and Hall, 1949

This funnel-eared species occupies an extensive geographic range
(northern México to Brazil) but appears to be relatively rare in Middle
America to the south of Guatemala. Our specimens represent the first of
this species to be reported from Nicaragua.

Both specimens from El Recreo, adult males, were caught by hand at
night after they flew through an open door into a small room, possibly
seeking insects that were swarming around a light bulb. Those from near
Nandaime (three males, two females) were caught in a mist net set over
the mouth of a well in which they were roosting; the well was
approximately 2 m in diameter, and the water level was about 5 m below
the rim. The females were not reproductively active (6 August).

We have compared our Nicaraguan material with a number of Mexican
specimens, including the holotype of N. s. saturatus and
topotypes of N. s. mexicanus. We concur with Goodwin (1959) that
in México there are two rather distinct subspecies, between which a
broad zone of intergradation obtains. Our Nicaraguan specimens agree
most closely with N. s. saturatus, and, until additional
comparative material is available from Middle America, we tentatively
refer them to that race. Handley (1966b:770) and Starrett and Casebeer
(1968:15), however, regarded mexicanus as the appropriate name
for specimens from Panamá and Costa Rica.

Selected measurements of two males from El Recreo are: length of
forearm, 41.2, 39.0 mm; greatest length of skull, 17.1, 16.5 mm;
zygomatic breadth, 8.4, 8.5 mm; mastoid breadth, 7.7, 7.6 mm; breadth
of braincase, 8.2, 8.1 mm; interorbital constriction, 3.2, 3.2 mm;
length of maxillary toothrow, 7.3, 7.1 mm.

Myotis albescens (E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1806)

This handsome Myotis has been reported previously from Nicaragua
only from the Caribbean lowlands—from the Escondido and Prinzapolka
rivers (Miller and Allen, 1928:203). We netted two specimens, both
males, at Santa Rosa, 17 km N and 15 km E Boaco, 300 m, Boaco, in
central Nicaragua on 13 July and 9 August 1967, under the same
conditions described in the account of Myotis elegans. Testes of
our specimens were 7 and 6 mm, respectively, in length. External and
cranial measurements are as follows: total length, 84, 83 mm; length of
tail, 31, 33 mm; length of hind foot, 9, 9 mm; length of ear, 15, 15
mm; length of forearm, 32.9, 35.1 mm; weight, 6.4, 6.2 gms; greatest
length of skull, 13.9, 14.4 mm; zygomatic breadth, 8.9, 9.0 mm;
postorbital breadth, 3.8, 3.9 mm; breadth of braincase, 7.2, 7.3 mm;
mastoid breadth, 7.4, 7.6 mm; breadth across upper molars, 5.6, 5.5 mm;
length of maxillary toothrow, 5.3, 5.3 mm.

Myotis elegans Hall, 1962

The first specimen on record of this rare Myotis from Central
America, a nonpregnant female, was taken on 11 July 1967 at Santa Rosa,
17 km N and 15 km E Boaco, 300 m, Boaco. It was captured in a mist net
as it foraged over a small stream that supported relatively
well-developed gallery forest along the bank. The surrounding area was
grassland (grazed), with small patches of tropical forest located on
the sides of hills. Twenty other species of bats were taken at this
same locality including Myotis argentatus and Myotis
nigricans nigricans.

External and cranial measurements of our specimen, followed in
parentheses by those of the female holotype from Veracruz, are: total
length, 71 (79) mm; length of tail, 32 (34) mm; length of hind foot, 7
(7.5) mm; length of ear, 11 (12) mm; length of forearm, 32.9 (33.0) mm;
greatest length of skull, 12.5 (12.4) mm; condylobasal length, 11.6
(11.9) mm; zygomatic breadth, 8.2 mm; breadth of braincase, 5.8 (6.1)
mm; postorbital breadth, 3.2 (3.2) mm; length of maxillary toothrow,
4.7 (4.6) mm. Our female weighed 3.2 gms.

Myotis nigricans nigricans (Schinz, 1821)

This small Neotropical Myotis has been reported from Nicaragua
only from the Caribbean lowlands of Zelaya (Davis et al.,
1964:379). Our records indicate that it is widely distributed in the
republic but evidently nowhere common. Females taken on 5 March and 6
August each carried a single embryo (7 and 13 mm in crown-rump length,
respectively), whereas one obtained on 21 July evidenced no
reproductive activity. Richard K. LaVal currently is studying the
Myotis nigricans complex; pending his revision our specimens are
tentatively assigned to M. n. nigricans.

Myotis simus riparius Handley, 1960

A male (USNM 52800) from the Escondido River above Bluefields,
originally reported by Miller and Allen (1928:203) as one of two M.
albescens from that locality, provides the first record of the
species from Nicaragua and the northernmost from Middle America. The
cranial dimensions of this specimen, which compare well with those
listed by Handley (1960:467) for the Panamanian holotype and paratype,
are: greatest length of skull, 13.8 mm; zygomatic breadth, 8.9 mm;
postorbital constriction, 3.5 mm; breadth of braincase, 6.7 mm; mastoid
breadth, 7.4 mm; breadth across upper molars, 5.5 mm; length of
maxillary toothrow, 5.2 mm.

From Nicaraguan specimens of albescens, the skull of the
specimen of simus examined (skin not seen) differs most
conspicuously in having a less inflated braincase, narrower postorbital
region, and a distinct sagittal crest.

Eptesicus furinalis gaumeri (J. A. Allen, 1897)

Davis (1965:234) reported two specimens of this species from Nicaragua,
one from Carazo (listed above) and the other from 1 mi SE Yalagüina,
2600 ft, Madriz. The only other specimen on record from Nicaragua is
from Greytown (Miller, 1897:100). Except for two individuals that were
shot as they foraged in early evening, our specimens were captured in
mist nets stretched over water or as described below.

Some of the bats captured northwest of Diriamba were taken in a net
placed across the center of a water-filled, concrete cistern that was
located in a large, open space used for drying coffee beans. Open at
the top, the cistern was approximately 12 m in diameter, and the water
level was approximately 3 m below the rim. Several Artibeus
jamaicensis, A. lituratus, and Molossus pretiosus
were caught in the same net. Aside from bats removed from the net, a
few Eptesicus and Molossus were retrieved from the water
where they fell, apparently stunned, after colliding with the wall of
the cistern. The fact that a number of decomposed bats of these two
species were observed floating in the water indicated that such
entrapment was not caused by the placement of our net.

A female pregnant with two embryos (crown-rump length 15 mm) was
captured on 22 April, whereas one taken on 5 July was lactating. Adult
males taken in March (two) and April (two) had testes 5, 7, 9, and 10
mm long, respectively.

Rhogeessa tumida tumida H. Allen, 1866

This small vespertilionid occurs throughout much of Central America,
but the available material still is insufficient to permit an accurate
assessment of geographic variation in that region. All but one of our
specimens were trapped in mist nets. Those captured near Diriamba were
taken in a net stretched across a trail bordered by high cut-banks,
whereas those from other localities were netted over small streams. The
one bat from Bellavista was shot as it foraged in the evening along
trees bordering the hacienda yard.

Two females taken on 5 March each had swollen uteri and may have been
in an early stage of pregnancy. Others taken on 13 July, 9 August, and
15 August were reproductively inactive. Males had testes that measured
2.5 (March), 3 (July), and 2 (August) mm.

We have compared our material with representative specimens from México
of R. parvula and R. tumida, as defined by Goodwin
(1958); we are not wholly convinced that these are valid species
(rather than variable geographic races of the same species). Certainly
there is need for additional investigation of the problem. Our
Nicaraguan specimens most closely resemble R. t. tumida (see
Goodwin, op. cit.:3), to which they are tentatively referred.

Selected measurements of two females from Boaco and a male from
Matagalpa, followed by the average (and extremes) of three males and
three females from western Nicaragua (Carazo and Chinandega), are,
respectively: length of forearm, 30.4, 28.5, 28.3, 28.2 (27.5-29.0) mm;
greatest length of skull, 12.8, 12.7, 12.8, 12.1 (11.8-12.5) mm;
zygomatic breadth, 8.1, 8.4, 8.6, 8.1 (7.8-8.6) mm; mastoid breadth,
7.1, 7.2, 7.2, 6.8 (6.6-7.1) mm; breadth of braincase, 6.0, 5.7, 6.0,
5.6 (5.3-6.1) mm; postorbital constriction, 3.3, 3.0, 3.3, 3.0
(2.9-3.2) mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 4.7, 4.7, 4.5, 4.3
(4.2-4.6) mm; weight, 4.4, 4.3, 3.8, 3.5 (3.1-3.9) gms.

Tadarida laticaudata yucatanica (Miller, 1902)

One adult male (testes 5 mm) of this free-tailed bat from Potosí, 5 m,
Chinandega, on the Cosigüina Peninsula, provides the only record of the
genus Tadarida from Nicaragua. This specimen was netted after
dark over a small stream that flowed into the Bay of Fonseca
approximately 200 yards below our nets (see account of Noctilio
leporinus). Other species taken in the same net included
Carollia subrufa, Sturnira lilium, Eptesicus
furinalis, Molossus ater, and Molossus molossus.

Selected measurements of the male are: total length, 92 mm; length of
tail, 31 mm; length of hind foot, 10 mm; length of ear, 15 mm; length
of forearm, 39.2 mm; weight, 10.3 gms; greatest length of skull, 17.2
mm; zygomatic breadth, 10.6 mm; postorbital constriction, 4.0 mm;
breadth of braincase, 8.6 mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 6.5 mm.

Eumops auripendulus (Shaw, 1800)

A broken skull (USNM 339917) of a female of this species from Hda.
Mecatepe [2 km N, 11.5 km E Nandaime, ca. 40 m], Granada,
represents the only known specimen of the genus Eumops from
Nicaragua. This bat was obtained by M. K. Clark on 25 August 1964, but
the conditions under which it was captured are not known. Available
cranial measurements are: zygomatic breadth, 12.6 mm; breadth of
braincase, 10.7 mm; postorbital breadth, 4.3 mm; rostral breadth, 7.4
mm; length of maxillary toothrow, 9.1 mm; length of mandibular c-m3,
10.0 mm.

Molossus ater nigricans Miller, 1902

Only one specimen of this large molossid (from Volcán de Chinandega—J.
A. Allen, 1908:670) has been reported from Nicaragua. All of our
specimens are from the northern or northwestern part of the country.
Many were shot in early evening as they followed a straight, direct
flight pattern (presumably from day-roosts toward foraging or watering
areas); the series from Potosí was netted over a small stream as
described in the account of Noctilio leporinus. We confidently
refer our material to the species currently known as ater,
although assignment to the subspecies nigricans is tentative.

Of 21 females autopsied in the first week of March on the Cosigüina
Peninsula, seven were pregnant, each with a single embryo (7-22 mm in
crown-rump length, average 16.7). Ten males taken at the same time had
an average testicular length of 5.7 (2-7) mm, whereas the testes of a
male obtained on 9 March at San Antonio measured 8 mm. None of five
females obtained in late July in Nueva Segovia evidenced reproductive
activity, nor did two of three females taken in July and one taken in
August from Chinandega; the fourth Chinandegan female, taken on 17
July, carried an embryo that was 36 mm in length. Two males from
southern Chinandega (mid-July) had testes 7 and 4 mm long.

Representative measurements of 10 specimens of each sex from Nicaragua
are given in Table 4.

Molossus molossus aztecus Saussure, 1860

This small free-tailed species has been reported from Nicaragua by
Felten (1957:14), who listed two females from Corinto. Our records
indicate that it is widely distributed, but of localized occurrence.
Specimens from Potosí and Santa Rosa were captured in mist nets over
streams (as described in the accounts of Noctilio leporinus and
Myotis elegans, respectively). The specimen from Hda. San Isidro
was shot in flight, whereas those from Rivas were captured in a daytime
retreat in a deep crevice in a concrete school building. We have no
precise knowledge of the conditions under which bats from 3 mi SW
Managua were obtained but suspect they were taken from a building.

Females in our series were reproductively active at all times for which
we have information—early March through mid-July—as follows: a female
from Potosí (6 March) carried an embryo that measured 5 mm (crown-rump
length) as did one from Santa Rosa (21 March, 17 mm in length); two of
three females taken 3 mi SW Managua on 28 March were pregnant (embryos
13 and 15 mm), whereas each of two collected there on 3 May were gravid
(embryos 27 and 30 mm); one female from Rivas (25 June) carried an
embryo (30 mm) and another was lactating and accompanied by a small
(forearm, 19.7 mm) hairless juvenile; and, finally, one of six females
netted at Santa Rosa on 13 July was pregnant (embryo 23 mm), but the
others evinced no reproductive activity. An adult male, taken at Rivas
with the females mentioned above, had testes that were 6 mm in length.

Bats of the genus Molossus are in need of thorough systematic
study. We think most, if not all, mainland populations of small
Molossus with pale-based hairs pertain to the species
Molossus molossus, originally described from the Lesser
Antilles. Although there is some variation in size and overall color
among our Nicaraguan samples, all seem to represent that species.
Because specimens from Nicaragua closely resemble examples of M. m.
aztecus from Jalisco, México (Table 3), in external and cranial
proportions, we tentatively refer them to aztecus.

In our field experience in both Middle and South America, colonies of
M. molossus tend to be extremely localized, with individual
populations or demes frequently separated by many miles of territory in
which the species seemingly does not regularly occur.

Table 3.—Selected measurements of adult Molossus
molossus.

The localized and presumably highly inbred populations may have
diverged morphologically, in some cases at least, to a degree that
mensural differences can be demonstrated even between samples from the
same general geographic area. Localized variation and relatively marked
secondary sexual variation (unrecognized by some earlier workers),
superimposed on geographic variation, have resulted in application of a
relatively large number of names to these small Molossus. Felten
(1957:13-14), for example, apparently used different specific names for
males and females from El Salvador, and Gardner (1966) employed three
different specific names for North American specimens. Only when
material is available for a detailed study of variation throughout the
Neotropics can the perplexing mosaic of characters in these small
Molossus be assessed adequately.

We have seen no specimens from Nicaragua that are identifiable as
Molossus bondae, another relatively small species that has been
reported from Greytown (Miller, 1913a:89) and from elsewhere in Central
America by other authors (Goodwin, 1942c:145; Handley, 1966b:772;
Gardner et al., 1970:727). Our examination of the female
holotype of M. bondae reveals that it is larger than M.
molossus, corresponding in size to females recently reported from
Costa Rica by Gardner et al. (loc. cit.), and that
bondae has dark-based hairs. The two males reported by Goodwin
(loc. cit.) from Honduras as bondae, would seem to be too
small for that species, based on the measurements listed; also, these
specimens allegedly have white-based hairs and probably represent M.
molossus as here defined.

Molossus pretiosus pretiosus Miller, 1902

This relatively large mastiff bat has not been reported previously from
Nicaragua. Specimens from several localities in Boaco were captured in
mist nets over streams; most of those from northwest of Diriamba were
shot in the early evening as they foraged high around large trees in a
coffee finca, but several were netted over a water-filled concrete tank
or found in the water in the tank as detailed in the account of
Eptesicus furinalis. At Los Cocos, bats that we netted seemed to
be emerging from a hollow located high in a tree over the stream.

Selected measurements of M. p. pretiosus from Nicaragua, which
compare favorably with those of topotypes from Venezuela, are listed in
Table 4 along with measurements of M. ater and M.
sinaloae. The taxonomic relationships of M. pretiosus and
M. ater are less than clear, and some authors (Handley,
1966b:773, for instance) have suggested that the two may be
conspecific. Whatever their ultimate relationships may prove to be, two
distinctive taxa seem to be present in Nicaragua; the larger is
assignable to ater and the smaller to pretiosus, as
currently understood. Furthermore, the presumed presence of two large
Molossus with dark-based hairs elsewhere in Central America
(Dilford C. Carter, personal communication) and in southeastern México
(Goodwin, 1956:4; Goodwin and Greenhall, 1964:20) argues for specific
recognition of pretiosus.

The species ater and pretiosus differ mainly in size
(Table 4), some measurements clearly separating the two when sexual
dimorphism is considered. Also, the average weights of 18 nonpregnant
females and four males of pretiosus (all adults) collected on 20
February 1968 at Los Cocos, were 20.9 (14.6-23.8) and 27.0 (24.6-31.7)
gms, respectively, significantly smaller than corresponding figures for
11 nonpregnant females and nine males of M. a. nigricans taken
two weeks later on the Cosigüina Peninsula—29.1 (26.1-33.0) and 32.9
(29.3-35.1) gms. It is of note that we have not collected these two
large species at the same localities in Nicaragua, and it is possible
that one competitively excludes the other in local situations.

Table 4.—Selected measurements of adults of three species of
Molossus from Nicaragua.

Among females from Departamento de Boaco, none of 18 collected on 20
February was pregnant, whereas three of four obtained on 4 April were
gravid (embryos 13, 15, and 17 mm in crown-rump length) as was one
(embryo 21 mm) taken on 18 July. Among those from northwest of
Diriamba, two of three were pregnant on 30-31 March (embryos 7 and 13
mm in length), whereas only three of eight carried embryos (29, 31, and
34 mm) in mid-August at a time when flying young also were collected.
Additionally, a female captured 6 mi WSW Managua on 27 March had an
embryo that measured 11 mm.

Four adult males collected on 20 February had an average testicular
length of 5.7 (4-7) mm, whereas those of seven obtained in late March
averaged 5.0 (4-6) mm; testes of two adults taken on 18 July were 6 and
6.5 mm, and those of three taken in the period 12-15 August were 5 mm
in length.

Molossus sinaloae sinaloae J. A. Allen, 1906

This mastiff bat can be distinguished easily from the other two large
species of Molossus in Nicaragua in that the hairs of the dorsum
are relatively long and are pale, frequently white, basally. The
species has been reported twice previously from Nicaragua—from
Greytown by Miller (1913a:89) and by Goodwin and Greenhall (1964:13),
who listed four individuals from Río Grande.

Most of our specimens were taken from buildings. A large series
obtained in a house at El Recreo in late June 1966 consisted only of
females and young, many of which were nearly full grown; some females
still were lactating and at least two were pregnant (on 23
June—crown-rump length of embryos 12 and 14 mm). A group taken
from another house at El Recreo (from cracks in the stone wall and from
between rafters and the corrugated metal roof) in late July 1966
consisted of adult males, lactating females, and young. Similarly, an
adult male, a pregnant female (embryo 14 mm in crown-rump length), and
a hairless juvenile were shot, on 16 February 1964, from a small colony
in an attic of a large house southwest of Managua; Glossophaga
soricina also was taken in this attic. The testes of an adult male
captured in June were 6 mm in length; those of four taken in July were
5, 5, 6, and 7 mm, and one obtained in August had testes that measured
3 mm.

Selected measurements of M. s. sinaloae from El Recreo are given
in Table 4.

CHECKLIST OF NICARAGUAN BATS

Following is a checklist of the 68 species of bats thus far reported
from Nicaragua. Citations are given only to publications that are
primary sources of information on Nicaraguan specimens. In some
instances, specimens were reported in the literature under a name
different than the one here employed; we have mentioned earlier-used
names where it seemed appropriate to do so. Taxa preceded by an
asterisk are included in the present paper.

Family EMBALLONURIDAE

Rhynchonycteris naso (Wied-Neuwied, 1820).—J. A. Allen
(1908:669, 1910:110), Sanborn (1937:327), Davis et al.
(1964:375, 379).

Saccopteryx bilineata (Temminck, 1838-1839).—J. A. Allen
(1910:110), Sanborn (1937:331), Jones (1964a:506).

*Saccopteryx leptura (Schreber, 1774).—Davis et al.
(1964:374), Jones (1964a:506).

Cormura brevirostris (Wagner, 1843).—J. A. Allen
(1910:110—specimens listed as Peropteryx canina from Peña
Blanca, see Sanborn, 1937:348), Miller (1924:38), Sanborn (1937:349),
Goodwin (1942c:119).

Peropteryx kappleri kappleri Peters, 1867.—J. A. Allen
(1908:669, 1910:110—as P. canina), Sanborn (1937:344).

*Peropteryx macrotis macrotis (Wagner, 1843).

Balantiopteryx plicata plicata Peters, 1867.—Jones et
al. (1962:152), Davis et al. (1964:375), Jones (1964a:506).

Diclidurus virgo Thomas, 1903.—Alston (1879-82:30).

Family NOCTILIONIDAE

*Noctilio labialis labialis (Kerr, 1792).—Goodwin (1942c:121,
1946:297), Davis et al. (1964:376), Kohls et al.
(1965:344), Wenzel et al. (1966:578).

*Noctilio leporinus mexicanus Goldman, 1915.—Davis et
al. (1964:376).

Family PHYLLOSTOMATIDAE

*Pteronotus davyi fulvus (Thomas, 1892).

*Pteronotus parnellii fuscus J. A. Allen, 1911.—Miller
(1902:402), Rehn (1904:203).

*Pteronotus suapurensis (J. A. Allen, 1904).—Goodwin (1942a:88,
1946:299, 1953:246).

Micronycteris brachyotis (Dobson, 1879).—Goodwin (1946:302—as
M. sylvestris), Sanborn (1949:224—as M. platyceps),
Goodwin and Greenhall (1961:231).

Micronycteris hirsuta (Peters, 1869).—Valdez and LaVal
(1971:247).

*Micronycteris megalotis mexicana Miller, 1898.—G. M. Allen
(1929:130).

*Micronycteris megalotis microtis Miller, 1898.—Miller
(1898:328, 1900:154), Lyon and Osgood (1909:263), J. A. Allen
(1910:110), Poole and Schantz (1942:133).

Micronycteris minuta (Gervais, 1856).—Valdez and LaVal
(1971:248).

Micronycteris schmidtorum Sanborn, 1935.—Davis et al.
(1964:378).

Macrophyllum macrophyllum (Schinz, 1821).—Davis et al.
(1964:378), Jones (1964a:506).

*Tonatia nicaraguae Goodwin, 1942.—Goodwin (1942b:205,
1946:305, 1953:246), Davis and Carter (1962:67), Valdez and LaVal
(1971:248).

Phyllostomus discolor verrucosus Elliot, 1905.—Jones
(1964a:507), Wenzel et al. (1966:598).

*Phyllostomus hastatus panamensis J. A. Allen, 1904.—Goodwin
(1942c:126), Wenzel et al. (1966:597).

*Trachops cirrhosus coffini Goldman, 1925.—Carter et al.
(1966:491).

*Chrotopterus auritus auritus (Peters, 1856).

Vampyrum spectrum nelsoni (Goldman, 1917).—Gray (1844:18),
Dobson (1878:471), Alston (1879-82:39), J. A. Allen (1910:111), Goldman
(1917:116), Goodwin (1946:310).

Glossophaga commissarisi Gardner, 1962.—Davis et al.
(1964:380), Jones (1964a:507).

Glossophaga soricina leachii (Gray, 1844).—Gray (1844:18),
Dobson (1878:501), Alston (1879-82:44), J. A. Allen (1910:111), Miller
(1913b:419), Alvarez (1963:400), Davis et al. (1964:380),
Starrett and de la Torre (1964:57).

*Anoura geoffroyi lasiopyga (Peters, 1868).

*Choeroniscus godmani (Thomas, 1903).—Handley (1966a:86).

*Lichonycteris obscura Thomas, 1895.—Thomas (1895:57), Davis
et al. (1964:380).

*Carollia castanea H. Allen, 1890.—-Davis et al.
(1964:379).

Carollia perspicillata azteca Saussure, 1860.—Hahn (1907:112),
J. A. Allen (1908:669, 1910:111), Davis et al. (1964:379),
Starrett and de la Torre (1964:58).

Carollia subrufa (Hahn, 1905).—Davis and Carter (1962:71),
Davis et al. (1964:379).

Sturnira lilium parvidens Goldman, 1917.—Davis et al.
(1964:379), Starrett and de la Torre (1964:59), Jones (1964a:507).

*Sturnira ludovici ludovici Anthony, 1924.

Uroderma bilobatum convexum Lyon, 1902.—Davis et al.
(1964:382), Jones (1964a:507), Davis (1968:695).

Uroderma bilobatum molaris Davis, 1968.—Davis et al.
(1964:382), Davis (1968:697).

*Uroderma magnirostrum Davis, 1968.—Davis (1968:680).

*Vampyrops helleri Peters, 1866.—Davis et al.
(1964:383), Jones (1964a:507), Valdez and LaVal (1971:248).

*Vampyrodes major G. M. Allen, 1908.—J. A. Allen (1910:112),
Goodwin (1946:320).

*Vampyressa nymphaea Thomas, 1909.

*Vampyressa pusilla thyone Thomas, 1909.—Starrett and de la
Torre (1964:60).

*Chiroderma villosum jesupi J. A. Allen, 1900.

Ectophylla alba H. Allen, 1892.—H. Allen (1892:441, 1898:267),
Lyon and Osgood (1909:266), Poole and Schantz (1942:129), Goodwin
(1942c:134, 1946:323), Goodwin and Greenhall (1962:4). Type locality
(Río Segovia) placed in Comarca de El Cabo, Nicaragua, by Miller and
Kellogg (1955:77).

Artibeus inopinatus Davis and Carter, 1964.—Davis and Carter
(1964:120).

Artibeus jamaicensis paulus Davis, 1970.—Andersen (1908:266),
Davis (1970b:121).

Artibeus jamaicensis richardsoni J. A. Allen, 1908.—Andersen
(1908:267), J. A. Allen (1908:669), Elliot (1917:168), Goodwin
(1953:249), Davis and Carter (1964:120), Davis et al.
(1964:379), Starrett and de la Torre (1964:60), Davis (1970b:116).

Artibeus lituratus palmarum J. A. Allen and Chapman,
1897.—Andersen (1908:279), Davis and Carter (1964:120), Davis et
al. (1964:379), Starrett and de la Torre (1964:61).

Artibeus phaeotis palatinus Davis, 1970.—Davis (1970a:401).

Artibeus phaeotis phaeotis (Miller, 1902).—Davis et al.
(1964:379), Davis (1970a: 399).

*Artibeus toltecus hesperus Davis, 1969.

*Artibeus toltecus toltecus (Saussure, 1860).—Andersen
(1908:300), Davis (1969:28).

*Artibeus watsoni Thomas, 1901.—Andersen (1908:290), Davis and
Carter (1962:71), Davis (1970a:393).

*Centurio senex senex Gray, 1842.—Goodwin (1946:327, restricted
type locality to El Realejo, Nicaragua).

Desmodus rotundus murinus Wagner, 1840.—J. A. Allen (1908:670,
1910:113).

*Diphylla ecaudata Spix, 1823.

Family NATALIDAE

*Natalus stramineus saturatus Dalquest and Hall, 1949.

Family THYROPTERIDAE

Thyroptera discifera discifera (Lichtenstein and Peters,
1854).—Miller (1896:111, 1931:411), Goodwin (1946:330).

Family VESPERTILIONIDAE

*Myotis albescens (E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1806).—Miller and
G. M. Allen (1928:203).

*Myotis elegans Hall, 1962.

*Myotis nigricans nigricans (Schinz, 1821).—Davis et al.
(1964:379), McDaniel and Coffman (1970:223).

*Myotis simus riparius Handley, 1960.

*Eptesicus furinalis gaumeri (J. A. Allen, 1897).—Miller
(1897:100), Davis (1965:234).

Lasiurus borealis frantzii (Peters, 1871).—Davis and Carter
(1962:73).

*Rhogeessa tumida tumida H. Allen, 1866.—J. A. Allen
(1910:113), Goodwin (1958:3).

Family MOLOSSIDAE

*Tadarida laticaudata yucatanica (Miller, 1902).

*Eumops auripendulus (Shaw, 1800).

*Molossus ater nigricans Miller, 1902.—J. A. Allen (1908:670).

Molossus bondae J. A. Allen, 1904.—Miller (1913a:89).

*Molossus molossus aztecus Saussure, 1860.—Felten (1957:14).

*Molossus pretiosus pretiosus Miller, 1902.

*Molossus sinaloae sinaloae J. A. Allen, 1906.—Miller
(1913a:89), Goodwin and Greenhall (1964:13).

LITERATURE CITED

Allen, G. M.

Allen, H.

Allen, J. A.

Alston, E. R.

Alvarez, T.

Andersen, K.

Burt, W. H., and R. A. Stirton

Cabrera, A.

Carter, D. C., R. H. Pine, and W. B. Davis

Davis, W. B.

Davis, W. B., and D. C. Carter

Davis, W. B., D. C. Carter, and R. H.
Pine

Dobson, G. E.

Elliot, D. G.

Felten, H.

Gardner, A. L.

Gardner, A. L., R. K. LaVal, and D. E. Wilson

Goldman, E. A.

Goodwin, G. G.

Goodwin, G. G., and A. M. Greenhall

Gray, J. E.

Hahn, W. L.

Handley, C. O., Jr.

Hershkovitz, P.

Husson, A. M.

Jones, J. K., Jr.

Jones, J. K., Jr., T. Alvarez, and M. R. Lee

Kohls, G. M., D. E. Sonenshine, and C. M.
Clifford

LaVal, R. K.

Lyon, M. W., and W. H. Osgood

McDaniel, B., and C. C. Coffman

Miller, G. S., Jr.

Miller, G. S., Jr., and G. M. Allen

Miller, G. S. Jr., and R. Kellogg

Paradiso, J. L.

Poole, A. J., and V. S. Schantz

Rehn, J. A. G.

Sanborn, C. C.

Starrett, A., and R. S. Casebeer

Starrett, A., and L. de la Torre

Thomas, O.

Valdez, R., and R. K. LaVal

Wenzel, R. L., V. J. Tipton, and A. Kiewlicz

University of Kansas Publications

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History,
beginning with volume 1 in 1946, was discontinued with volume 20 in
1971. Shorter research papers formerly published in the above series
are now published as Occasional Papers, Museum of Natural History. The
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