Andersen's fruit-eating bat explained

Andersen's fruit-eating bat (Dermanura anderseni) is a bat species found in South America.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1916 by American zoologist Wilfred Hudson Osgood. The holotype had been collected in 1915 by "R. H. Becker" (likely Osgood's assistant Robert Becker) in Porto Velho, Brazil.[1] [2] The eponym for the species name "anderseni" is Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen. The classification of Dermanura and Artibeus has been a topic of debate, though there has been genetic and morphological evidence to reclassify the species as Artibeus aequatorialis.[3]

Description

It is a relatively small species of bat, with a forearm length of NaNmm. Its fur is dark brown on both its dorsal and ventral sides.[1] Individuals weigh NaNg. Its dental formula is for a total of 28 teeth.[4] It has indistinct facial stripes.[1]

Biology and ecology

It is one of relatively few species of bats that constructs "tents" out of leaves for roosting. It is likely frugivorous.[5]

It is found in several countries in South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It has been found at elevations up to 1300m (4,300feet) above sea level.

Conservation

As of 2016, it is evaluated as least concern by the IUCN.

Notes and References

  1. Osgood. W. H.. 1916. Mammals of the Collins-Day south American expedition. 10. 14. 212–213. (Day was Lee Garnett Day
  2. Book: Kohler, R. E.. 2013. All creatures: Naturalists, collectors, and biodiversity, 1850-1950. Princeton University Press. 9781400849710. 146.
  3. LARSEN. PETER A.. MARCHÁN-RIVADENEIRA. MARÍA R.. BAKER. ROBERT J.. 2010-10-18. Taxonomic status of Andersen's fruit-eating bat (Artibeus jamaicensis aequatorialis) and revised classification of Artibeus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Zootaxa. 2648. 1. 45. 10.11646/zootaxa.2648.1.3. 1175-5334. free.
  4. 10.1515/mammalia-2017-0034. First record of Dermanura anderseni (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) for the Atlantic Forest. Mammalia. 82. 4. 388–392. 2017. Rocha. Patrício A. Tavares. Valeria da C. Pedroso. Mônica A. Beltrão-Mendes. Raone. Ruiz-Esparza. Juan. Ferrari. Stephen F. 89834550.
  5. Book: Gardner. A. L.. 2008. Mammals of South America, volume 1: marsupials, xenarthrans, shrews, and bats. 1. University of Chicago Press. 978-0226282404. 314–315.