Dryadonycteris capixaba explained

Dryadonycteris capixaba is a species of leaf-nosed bat found in South America. It is the only species within the genus Dryadonycteris.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 2012. It was described in part from museum specimens that had been identified as the lesser long-tongued bat. The holotype was collected in 2011 in Linhares, Brazil. It is within the subfamily Glossophaginae. The genus name Dryadonycteris was derived from Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius's name for Atlantic Forest, "Dryades." "Dryades" was derived from Greek dryad, or "wood nymph." "Dryadonycteris" literally means "bat from Dryades," here meaning Atlantic Forest. The species name "capixaba" is from the Tupia language meaning "a native of the state of Espírito Santo."[1]

Description

It is similar in appearance to Lichonycteris and Choeroniscus species. It is a small member of Glossophaginae, with a forearm length of NaNmm. It has a triangular nose-leaf. Its tail is short at about 6.5mm. It has a dental formula of for a total of 30 teeth.[1]

Biology and ecology

It is nectarivorous.[1]

Range and habitat

It is currently only known from Brazil. It has been documented at elevations of 60m (200feet) and 750m (2,460feet) above sea level.[2]

Notes and References

  1. 10.1206/3747.2. New Genus and species of nectar-feeding bat from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Glossophaginae). American Museum Novitates. 3747. 1–30. 2012. Nogueira. Marcelo R. Lima. Isaac P. Peracchi. Adriano L. Simmons. Nancy B. 2246/6180. 84718763 .
  2. Rocha. P. A.. Feijó. A.. Dias. D.. Mikalauskas. J.. Ruiz-Esparza. J.. Ferrari. S. F.. 2014. Major extension of the known range of the capixaba nectar-feeding bat, Dryadonycteris capixaba (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae). Is this rare species widely distributed in eastern Brazil?. Mastozool Neotrop.