Distribution extension of Proboscis bat Rhynchonycteris naso (Wied-Neuwied, 1820) (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae): new record for southwestern Ecuador

Abstract

We report the first confirmed record of Rhynchonycteris naso in southwestern Ecuador. We observed a colony of about 10 individuals roosting under a bridge of a water reservoir that was surrounded by sugar cane crops and located in Naranjito in the Province of Guayas. This is a heavily disturbed area with small remnants of humid evergreen forest in the lowlands of the Ecuadorian coast. This record constitutes a new locality of Rhychonycteris naso for the Guayas province in a different type of vegetation and habitat from previous records for this species in Ecuador and it represents the southwesternmost record for Ecuador and South America.

Range extension to Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province and revised distribution of Platyrrhinus chocoensis (Phyllostomidae: Chiroptera) in western Ecuador

“…Considering the ecological similarities across ecosystems (Drechsler et al, 2007), many mammals demonstrate very wide distribution ranges, such as the recent record of Coendu istichillus (Voss & da Silva, 2001) at 900 km away from the known boundaries of its previously recognized distribution area (Gregory et al, 2015). In fact, the scientific literature argues that the majority of range extension records are due to lack of monitoring effort (Rocha et al, 2013;Salas et al, 2013, Novaes et al, 2014. On the other hand, one should also consider that landscape and ecosystem anthropogenic modifications may further contribute to range extension.…”

First record of the pale-faced bat Phylloderma stenops Peters 1865 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in the province of Guayas, Southwest Ecuador

“…In recent years, there have been new records and extensions in the distribution of various species of bats in Southwestern Ecuador (Salas 2008;Carrera et al 2010, Narváez et al 2012Tirira et al 2012a, b;Salas et al 2013), despite the rapid deterioration of its vegetation cover and expected loss of biodiversity (Dobson and Gentry 1991; Ministerio de Ambiente de Ecuador 2013). This region should be considered a priority for bat research and conservation programs, both in protected and unprotected forest areas.…”