Discovery of extant Natulus major (Chiroptera: Natalidae) in Cuba

Systematics of Funnel-Eared Bats (Chiroptera: Natalidae)

“…Tejedor et al (2004) reported that the extant population from Cueva La Barca was significantly smaller in four cranial dimensions than a fossil sample (attributed to late Pleistocene; Silva-Taboada, 1974) from Central Cuba, but could not distinguish whether the difference was due to chronological or geographic variation. Comparison with fossil material (also attributed to late Pleistocene; Morgan, 1989Morgan, , 1994) from the Bahamas and the Cayman islands indicates significant geographic differences among the three island groups (table 17, fig.…”

“…Although its diet has never been studied, N. stramineus is surely insectivorous, as are other representatives of Natalidae (e.g., Nyctiellus lepidus, Silva-Taboada, 1979; Natalus primus, Tejedor et al, 2004).…”

“…Cueva La Barca is thus far protected from human disturbance by its remoteness in Guanahacabibes Peninsula, but it may soon become more accessible as Cuba opens its remote areas to tourism (Díaz-Brisquet and Pérez-Ló pez, 2000). Although 1992 estimates indicated a relatively large population of Natalus primus (Tejedor et al, 2004), its current population trend is unknown and should be evaluated to adequately formulate conservation plans for this species.…”

“…In 2003, Morgan and Czaplewski described Primonatalus prattae, a fossil natalid from the Miocene of northern Florida, and argued strongly for the revalidation of Chilonatalus as a distinct genus. In addition, Tejedor et al (2004) announced the rediscovery of a Cuban taxon, Natalus primus, previously thought extinct and long synonymized with Natalus stramineus. On the basis of morphological evidence, Tejedor et al (2005b) revised the taxonomy of Greater Antillean Natalus, revalidating N. primus and elevating Natalus jamaicensis to the status of fully distinct species.…”

Pacific Flying Foxes (Mammalia: Chiroptera): Two New Species of Pteropus from Samoa, Probably Extinct

“…Other bats often considered to be extinct have been recently rediscovered as living animals (e.g., Dobsonia chapmani, Myotis planiceps; see Simmons, 2005). Several mormoopid and phyllostomid species from the West Indies also became extinct during the Holocene and may have persisted into historical times, but as far as we know these taxa remain known solely from subfossil remains rather than historical museum specimens (Simmons, 2005; see also Tejedor et al, 2004Tejedor et al, , 2005.…”