Phylogeny of Molossidae Gervais (Mammalia: Chiroptera) inferred by morphological data

Abstract

Molossidae is a large (roughly 100 species) pantropically distributed clade of swift aerially insectivorous bats for which the phylogeny remains relatively unknown and little studied compared with other speciose groups of bats. We investigated phylogenetic relationships among 62 species, representing all extant molossid genera and most of the subgenera, using 102 morphological characters from the skull, dentition, postcrania, external morphology, tongue, and penis, based on direct observation and literature reports. Both parsimony and Bayesian analyses were used in phylogenetic reconstruction. Our analysis supports two main clades of molossids, both of which mingle Old World and New World taxa. One clade is comprised of Mormopterus,Platymops, Sauromys, Neoplatymops, Molossops, Cynomops, Cheiromeles, Molossus, and Promops. The other clade includes Tadarida, Otomops, Nyctinomops, Eumops, Chaerephon, and Mops. The position of Myopterus with respect to these two groups is unclear. As in other recent analyses, we find that several genera do not appear to be monophyletic (e.g. Tadarida, Chaerephon, and Molossops sensu lato). We recommend that the subgenera of Molossops sensu lato and Austronomus be recognized at the generic level. We conclude that much more data are needed to investigate lower level problems (generic monophyly and relationships within genera) and to resolve the higher‐level branching pattern of the family.

Phylogenetic diversity, types of endemism and the evolutionary history of New World bats

“…Nonetheless, the presence of palaeo-and mixed-endemism outside South America suggests the possibility of additional centres of endemism. Moreover, palaeoendemism in Central and North America also suggests that the northward migration of molossids could have occurred earlier than thought, supporting the idea that GABI does not explain patterns of modern molossid biodiversity (Arita et al 2014, Gregorin andCirranello 2016). Based on our CANAPE results, the central Andes and Pacific coast of South America are major areas of molossid palaeo-endemism, supporting a refugium hypothesis inferred by the RPD analysis (Gregorin andCirranello 2016, Penone et al 2016).…”

“…Our CANAPE results suggest a scenario of multiple centres of diversification for molossids across the New World (Arita et al 2014, Gregorin andCirranello 2016). As suggested by tropical niche conservatism, wide areas of all kinds of endemism throughout South America support the idea of South America as the first centre of diversification for this family (Stevens 2011, Pereira and Palmeirim 2013, Olalla-Tárraga et al 2017.…”

First record of Promops nasutus (Spix, 1823) (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from Colombia

“…Indeed, the misidentified specimens we found reflect the poor understanding of Colombian molossid bats and can also be explained by the morphological similarities between Promops and Molossus (Ammerman et al 2012;Gregorin and Cirranello 2016). It is important to mention, that the implementation of other documenting methodologies, rather than ground mist nets are necessary in inventories (i.e., echolocation detectors, canopy mist nets, and manual captures in roosting sites) (Simmons and Voss 1998).…”

The bats of the Congo and of Rwanda and Burundi revisited (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

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