Notes on Vampyressa thyone (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae): distribution, genetics and hypopigmentation

Abstract

The frugivorous bats of the genus Vampyressa include five neotropical species, and some of them are considered relatively rare and uncommonly encountered. The northernmost distribution of this genus is in Mexico where only one species, the monotypic Vampyressa thyone, is found. Here, we report the Northwesternmost record for this species, extending its distribution range to the state of Guerrero, Mexico. This record extends the limit of the species distribution by more than 153 km. We also compared this specimens with other V. thyone, and using mitochondrial cytochrome-b sequences we detected three geographic clades within the species. The new Mexican specimen represent the most divergent cytochrome-b sequence within V. thyone. We recommend a taxonomic revision to validate the taxonomic status of the three groups detected within V. thyone, particularly the differentiated Mexican clade. Additionally, we report a case of hypopigmentation in another V. thyone collected in a mature tropical rainforest in Chiapas, Mexico.

Rediscovery of Vampyressa thyone (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in Honduras: updated distribution and notes on its conservation

“…However, populations of this species may be locally threatened throughout its distribution in Honduras. V. thyone highly depends on mature and well-preserved forests, forages in evergreen forests and has a relatively low abundance in Mexico and Central America being considered an uncommon species (Handley 1966;Jones et al 1971;Lewis and Wilson 1987;Medina-Fitoria 2014;Zamora Mejías and Rodríguez Herrera 2017;Mora et al 2018;Hernández-Canchola et al 2019). In addition to Valdez and LaVal (1971), the sites in Lancetilla may no longer be undisturbed, because we found plantations of rambutans (Nephelium lappaceum) near the studied areas.…”

Northwesternmost records of Vampyressa thyone Thomas, 1909 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) from Sierra de Atoyac, Guerrero, México

“…Identification. Vampyressa thyone can be easily differentiated from most other Vampyressa species by its smaller size (forearm lengths in mm are: V. thyone = 29.3-34.0, V. pusilla = 32.3-36.0, V. elisabethae = 36.1-37.8, V. voragine = 37.0-37.8, V. melissa = 36.7-39.8, V. sinchi = 39.1-41.5) (Lim et al 2003;Tavares et al 2014;Hernández-Canchola et al 2019;Morales-Martínez et al 2021). The forearm length in V. thyone only overlaps with V. pusilla, but the latter is restricted to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina, and V. thyone has a smaller and less robust skull and dentition, compared with V. pusilla (Lim et al 2003).…”

“…This genus can be morphologically differentiated from others in the Stenodermatinae by the presence of an accessory cusp at the apex of the upper canines, a small foramen in the medial flange of the palatine process of the premaxilla, and a low extension of the caudal border of the pterygoid that is well separated from the foramen ovale (Tavares et al 2014). Beyond knowing that they are primarily frugivorous, little is known about the feeding habitats, ecology, natural history, and distribution of Vampyressa species (Tavares et al 2014;Rodríguez-Posada et al 2018;Hernández-Canchola et al 2019;Ordoñez-Mazier et al 2020).…”

“…pers.). Vampyressa thyone is monotypic, and its geographic range includes Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela (Lim et al 2003;Hernández-Canchola et al 2019). This species is apparently rare in Mexico and Central America, with individuals known from only few sites (Téllez-Girón 2014;Ordoñez-Mazier et al 2020).…”

“…This species is apparently rare in Mexico and Central America, with individuals known from only few sites (Téllez-Girón 2014;Ordoñez-Mazier et al 2020). A single male V. thyone was recently reported in eastern Guerrero, Mexico, extending the known distribution of the species to the northwest; given this record, increased sampling effort was recommended for that Mexican state to improve basic knowledge of Neotropical bats (Hernández-Canchola et al 2019) and mammal species in general (Espinosa-Martínez et al 2017;Osorio-Rodriguez et al 2021). As a result of that recommendation, we conducted fieldwork in south-central Guerrero, which allowed for the discovery of new northwesternmost records of V. thyone.…”