38.

Pale-faced Bat

Phylloderma stenops

French: Phylloderme de Peters / German: Peters-Lanzennase / Spanish: Filoderma pélido

Taxonomy. Phyllostoma (Phylloderma) stenops Peters, 1865,

“Cayenne,” French Guiana.

Widely used subspecific names boliviensis and septentrionalis have been changed for gender agreement. R. J. Baker and collaborators in 1988 included stenops under Phyllostomus, but reanalysis placed it back as the sole species in Phylloderma. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.s.stenopsPeters,1865—EColombia,Venezuela,theGuianas,EEcuador,EPeru,N&EBrazil,andNBolivia;alsoonTrinidadI.

P.s.bolivienseBarquez&Ojeda,1979—EBolivia.

P. s. septentrionale G. G. Goodwin, 1940 — from S Mexico (Veracruz and Oaxaca) through Central America to NW South America in W Colombia, W Ecuador, and NW Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 83-109 mm, tail 14-21 mm, ear 24-29 mm, hindfoot 18— 25 mm, forearm 66-81 mm; weight 25-39 g. The Pale-faced Bat is large and robust and externally can be confused with species of Phyllostomus. It has prominent chin and lip excrescences (but not like those found in Trachops), and ears are triangular, with pointed tips; these and anterior part of face are almost naked. Noseleaf is wide at base, with pointed tip and horseshoe fused to upperlip below nostrils. Dorsal fur has short brown to reddish brown hairs, often marked with white flecks; ventral fur is usually paler, with grayish hairs, well frosted with pale tips. Wing membranes are blackish, with conspicuous white wingtips. One-half of forearm is hairy. Calcars are shorter or nearly equal to feet, and short tail reaches only one-half of uropatagium. Pale-faced Bats can be distinguished from species of Phyllostomus by conspicuously expanded braincase, bifid I, three lower premolars (P, small), and narrow-crowned molars. Dental formulais12/2,C1/1,P2/3,M 3/3 (x2) = 34.

Habitat. Variety of habitats, mostly lowland and humid formations, most commonly ever green or riparian forests, but also drier regions, such as dry and xeric shrublands, from sea level up to ¢. 1750 m. Pale-faced Bats are strongly associated with multistrata tropical evergreen forests but are broadly tolerant of man-made clearings in Venezuela. A few records come from highly transformed areas such as forest patches or agricultural clearings.

Food and Feeding. Diet includes insects, with mainly beetles dominating diets in wet seasons; some fruits are also eaten. One individual caught in Costa Rica had eaten fruit, especially those of cucurbit vines, and also Annonaceae. In Brazil, another individual chewed its way into the nest of a social wasp, where it ate larvae and pupae. A Pale-faced Bat was collected while it was attacking a large rat, apparently a spiny-rat (Proechimys, Echimyidae).

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Palefaced Bat is nocturnal; some studies suggest it leaves the roost shortly after sunset and often flies in groups. It appears to roost in hollow trees.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCNRed List, as it 1s considered locally rare, with few records from specific localities but with a broad distribution.

Bibliography. Baker, Dunn & Nelson (1988), Barquez & Ojeda (1979), Brito & Arguero (2012), Clarke & Downie (2001), Goodwin (1940), LaVal (1977), Reid (2009), Salas et al. (2014), Simmons (2005), Van Den Bussche & Baker (1993), Williams & Genoways (2008).