Kalko's yellow-eared bat explained

Kalko's yellow-eared bat (Vampyressa elisabethae) is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae.^[1] It is found in northern Panama.

Taxonomy and etymology

The holotype of V. elisabethae was collected in 1961 in a montane evergreen forest (approximately 1,500 meters above sea level) in "Rancho Mojica", a locality 32 km far from Changuinola in Panama. Besides the holotype, just another four specimens are known, all were collected between 1961 and 1976.^[2]

The species name honors Elisabeth Klara Viktoria Kalko, for her important contributions to bat ecology. Kalko worked intensively in Panama, mainly in Barro Colorado Island.

A recent study obtained cytochrome b gene sequences from the holotype, including it in a phylogenetic analysis of the genus. It was shown that it has a high degree of molecular divergence from the other Vampyressa. In the phylogeny it is recovered as the sister group of a clade composed by V. melissa and V. voragine.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Morales-Martínez . Darwin M . Rodríguez-Posada . Miguel E . Ramírez-Chaves . Héctor E . 2021-04-01 . Erratum to: A new cryptic species of yellow-eared bat Vampyressa melissa species complex (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Colombia . Journal of Mammalogy . 102 . 2 . 660 . 10.1093/jmammal/gyab016 . 0022-2372.
2. Tavares, V.R. . Gardner, A.L.. Ramírez-Chaves, H.E. . Velazco, P.M. . 2014 . Systematics of Vampyressa melissa Thomas, 1926(Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), with descriptions of two new species of Vampyressa . American Museum Novitates . 3813 . 1–27 . 10.1206/3813.1. 2534224.
3. Tavares, V.R. . Gardner, A.L.. McDonough, M.M. . Maldonado, J.E.. Gutiérrez, E.E.. Velazco, P.M. . Garbino, G.S.T.. 2022 . Historical DNA of rare yellow-eared bats Vampyressa Thomas, 1900 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) clarifies phylogeny and species boundaries within the genus . Systematics and Biodiversity . 20 . 1 . 1–13 . 10.1080/14772000.2022.2117247. free .