A new species of Rhogeessa from Nicaragua based on morphological, karyotypic, and molecular data.

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) New molecular and morphological data along with previously described karyotypes of Rhogeessa from eastern Nicaragua were examined. Currently, this population is classified as R. tumida. Based on genetic divergence, karyotypic distinction, and morphology, it is herein designated as a new species. The recognition of this new taxon brings the number of species in the Rhogeessa tumida complex to nine. The other species in the complex include R. aeneus, R. bickhami, R. genowaysi, R. hussoni, R. io, R. menchuae, R. tumida, and R. velilla. Now, only a single karyotype is present in each species in the R. tumida complex (although the karyotype is not necessarily unique to each species), and species delimitations are all consistent with expectations of genetic isolation as described by the Genetic Species Concept. Multivariate analysis of mensural characters is shown to separate nearly all of the taxa within the species complex.