Alfred L. Gardner

Species Groups in Proechimys (Rodentia, Echimyidae) as Indicated by Karyology and Bullar Morphology

The genus Proechimys is divisible into four groups of species on the basis of bullar septal patterns. Each of the four groups can be further characterized by distinctive distributions and karyotypes. The subgenus Trinomys and the guairae species group each are comprised of phylogenetically closely-related species. The semispinosus - and brevicauda -groups, although generally distinctive on the basis of bullar septa, are not phylogenetically equivalent to the first two groups. The brevicauda -group, for example, consists of at least three separate species complexes. The taxonomy used in this report reflects several nomenclatural changes from that used in the recent literature. In addition, previously unreported karyotypes are described for P. quadruplicatus, P. gularis, P. decumanus, P. oris, P. oconnelli , and P. mincae .

The Distributional Status of Some Costa Rican Bats

Distributional records are presented for 229 specimens of 34 species of Costa Rican bats with comments on their taxonomy, life history, and reproductive activity. Species reported from Costa Rica for the first time are Micronycteris minuta, Tonatia minuta, Mimon cozumelae, Mimon crenulatum, Vampyressa nymphaea, Diaemus youngi, Molossops greenhalli, Eumops glaucinus, Eumops hansae, and Molossus bondae. Additional data are presented for Centronycteris maximiliani, Micronycteris megalotis, Micronycteris hirsuta, Tonatia hidens, Tra-chops cirrhosus, Vampyrum spectrum, Lonchophylla concava, Anoura cultrata, Choeroniscus godmani, Hylonycteris underwoodi, Lichonycteris obscura, Sturnira mordax, Vampyrops vittatus, Vampyrodes major, Vampyressa pusilla, Chiroderma villosum, Ectophylla alba, Enchisthenes hartii, Thyroptera tricolor, Myotis albescens, Myotis chiloensis, Lasiurus borealis, Lasiurus ega, and Rhogeessa tumida.

On the Relationships of “Marmosa” formosa Shamel, 1930 (Marsupialia: Didelphidae), a Phylogenetic Puzzle from the Chaco of Northern Argentina

Abstract The holotype and only known specimen of Marmosa formosa Shamel, a nominal species currently synonymized with Gracilinanus agilis Burmeister, is strikingly unlike any other known didelphid marsupial. Phylogenetic analyses based on nonmolecular characters and IRBP sequences suggest that formosa is either the sister-taxon of Thylamys (including Lestodelphys) or Monodelphis. Because neither alternative is strongly supported by the data at hand, and because including formosa in Thylamys or in Monodelphis would compromise the diagnosability of those taxa, a new genus—Chacodelphys—is proposed to contain it. Currently known only from northern Argentina, Chacodelphys formosa may be widely distributed in the Chaco and other adjacent Neotropical biomes.

A guide to constructing and understanding synonymies for mammalian species

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Format for Listings in Generic Synonymy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Format for Listings in Species Synonymy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Citation Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Understanding, Researching, and Constructing Synonymies . . . 2 I. Scientific Names and Nomenclature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 I.

A new species of Platyrrhinus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from western Colombia and Ecuador, with emended diagnoses of P. aquilus, P. dorsalis, and P. umbratus

Abstract The Neotropical bat genus Platyrrhinus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae) currently comprises 15 species. Our morphological and morphometric analysis of large and medium-sized Platyrrhinus revealed a distinctive undescribed species from western South America. We also recognize P. aquilus (Handley & Ferris 1972) and P. umbratus (Lyon 1902) as valid species. We describe P. nitelinea sp. nov. from western Colombia and Ecuador and provide emended diagnoses along with descriptions of P. aquilus, P. dorsalis, and P. umbratus. Phylogenetic analysis of Platyrrhinus based on morphological characters indicates that P. aquilus is closely related to P. aurarius and P. nigellus, P. umbratus to P. chocoensis, and P. nitelinea to P. vittatus.

Systematics of Vampyressa melissa Thomas, 1926 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), with descriptions of two new species of Vampyressa

ABSTRACT Vampyressa melissa is a poorly known phyllostomid bat listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Since its description in 1926, fewer than 40 V melissa have been reported in the literature, and less than half of these may have been correctly identified. During revisionary studies of Vampyressa, we uncovered two previously unrecognized species related to V. melissa, all associated with higher elevation habitats (>1400 m), one from the Andes of Colombia (Vampyressa sinchi, new species) and the other from western Panama (Vampyressa elisabethae, new species) revealing that V. melissa, as traditionally defined, is a composite of at least three species. In this paper, we provide a restricted diagnosis for the genus Vampyressa, an emended diagnosis of V. melissa, and descriptions of the two new species. The separation of these frugivorous bats, previously identified as V. melissa, into three isolated upper-elevation species, each having restricted distributions further highlights their fragile conservation status.

Review of Myotis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Northern South America, Including Description of a New Species

ABSTRACT We describe a new species of bat in the genus Myotis (Vespertilionidae, Myotinae) from the coastal mountains of Venezuela. The new species (Myotis handleyi, sp. nov.) can be distinguished from other South American congeners by the following set of traits: dorsal fur long, silky, and bicolored with burnished tips; skull long; rostrum long and broad; frontals moderately to steeply sloping; sagittal crest absent or very low; plagiopatagium broadly attached to the foot at the level of the base of the toes; fringe of hairs along the trailing edge of uropatagium absent; and fur on uropatagium not reaching knees. We review Colombian and Venezuelan samples of Myotis, covering all of the currently recognized species known from these countries. Based on our analyses, we provide a sketch of the taxonomic diversity of the genus in Colombia and Venezuela, along with a key to their identification. Among other conclusions, we elevate M. nigricans caucensis to the species level; confirm that populations of M. nigricans from the opposite sides of the Andes represent the same taxon; retain J.A. Allens names M. esmeraldae, M. bondae, and M. maripensis in the synonymy of M. nigricans; and document clinal variation in size along an altitudinal gradient for M. nigricans, with larger specimens from higher elevations. This research, based on museum and field collections, is one of a series of studies by the senior author re-evaluating species limits among Neotropical Myotis.

A new species of Lonchophylla Thomas (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Ecuador

ABSTRACT We describe Lonchophylla orcesi, sp. nov., from the Chocó, a region of high biotic diversity, endemism, and rainfall along the western Andean slopes and Pacific lowlands of Colombia and Ecuador. One of the largest known Lonchophylla, it occurs sympatrically with at least two other species of Lonchophylla including the similar, but somewhat smaller L. robusta. We also recognize L. concava as a Middle American Province species distinct from L. mordax of Brazil and Bolivia on the basis of cranial and dental features.

The valid generic name for red-backed voles (Muroidea: Cricetidae: Arvicolinae): restatement of the case for Myodes Pallas, 1811

Abstract In view of contradictions in the recent literature, the valid genus-group name to be applied to northern red-backed voles—Myodes Pallas, 1811, or Clethrionomys Tilesius, 1850—is reviewed. To develop the thesis that Myodes (type species, Mus rutilus Pallas, 1779) is the correct name, our discussion explores the 19th-century taxonomic works that bear on the relevant taxa, the transition in zoological codes apropos the identification of type species, and past nomenclatural habits in cases where no type species was originally indicated. We conclude that Myodes is the senior name to use for the genus-group taxon that includes the Holarctic species rutilus and frame this conclusion within a synonymy of the genus.

A Review of the Peruvian Species of Vampyrops (Chiroptera: Phyllostomatidae)

The taxonomic identities of Peruvian bats assigned to the genus Vampyrops are discussed. Peruvian species of Vampyrops include vittatus, infuscus (synonyms, fumosus and intermedius ), dorsalis (synonyms, umhratus and oratus ), nigellus, hellen , and brachycephalus . A neotype is designated for V. infuscus .