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| Skull profiles of (A-C) Myotis keaysi (CML 10985) from Argentina; and (D-F) Myotis moratellii sp. nov. (USNM 525868) from western lowlands of Ecuador. Novaes, Cláudio, Carrión-Bonilla, Abreu, Wilson, Maldonado & Weksler, 2021 |
Abstract
The genus Myotis comprises a diverse group of vespertilionid bats with worldwide distribution. Twenty-eight Neotropical species are currently recognized. In this study, we evaluate molecular and morphological variation in the M. keaysi complex, a high elevation clade of Neotropical myotine bats characterized by complex taxonomy and high morphological variation. A phylogeny inferred with cytochrome-b sequences recovered two clades composed of samples traditionally assigned to M. keaysi, with 9% of genetic divergence between them. These clades were also suggested as putative distinct species by molecular species delimitation methods. Qualitative and quantitative morphological analyses indicated a phenotypic discontinuity between specimens from central Andes (including the holotype of M. keaysi) and western lowlands of Ecuador, showing strong congruence between molecular and morphological approaches. We therefore describe a new species for the Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena region, documenting their external and cranial diagnostic characters by comparing them with other Neotropical species. In addition, we provide an emended diagnosis for our new concept of M. keaysi.
Andes, historical DNA, multivariate morphometry, molecular species delimitation, Myotinae, Neotropics, taxonomy, Western Ecuador lowlands
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| Skull profiles of Myotis keaysi (CML 10985) from Argentina in lateral (A), ventral (B) and dorsal (C) views; and Myotis sp. nov. (USNM 525868) from western lowlands of Ecuador in lateral (D), ventral (E) and dorsal (F) views. The image of the Myotis sp. nov. mandible was inverted. |
Family Vespertilionidae Gray (1821)
Subfamily Myotinae Tate (1942)
Genus Myotis Kaup (1829)
Subgenus Pizonyx Miller (1906)
Myotis moratellii, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Medium-sized species (FA 35.0–38.2 mm; GLS 13.8–14.0 mm); sagittal crest present and ranging from medium to high; robust and broad skull; braincase inflated and remarkably high in profile; braincase roof formed by the parietal bone subtly inclined forward; frontal bone with a sharp slope in lateral view; posterior region of the braincase rounded and projected beyond the limit of the occipital condyles; well-developed mastoid processes; dorsal fur moderately long (5–7 mm), woolly and unicolored, ranging from Buckthorn Brown to Aniline Yellow; legs and dorsal face of the uropatagium covered by fur that extend up to or just above the knees; plagiopatagium attached to the foot by a broad band of membrane.
Etymology: Myotis moratellii is named in honor of Dr. Ricardo Moratelli, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the knowledge of systematics and natural history of Chiroptera, especially the taxonomy of Neotropical Myotis, such as the description of eight new species: M. izecksohni Moratelli et al., 2011; M. lavali Moratelli et al., 2011; M. diminutus Moratelli & Wilson 2011; Myotis handleyi Moratelli et al., 2013; M. midastactus Moratelli & Wilson, 2014; M. clydejonesi Moratelli et al., 2016; M. attenboroughi Moratelli et al., 2017; and M. bakeri Moratelli et al., 2019. More than a notable researcher, Dr. Moratelli is also an attentive and brilliant mentor, dedicated to the training of new scientists. This species name is a noun in the genitive case formed by adding -i to the stem of the name (ICZN, 1999; 31.1.2).
Common name: Moratelli’s Myotis (English); Myotis de Moratelli (Spanish).
Roberto Leonan M. Novaes, Vinícius C. Cláudio, Carlos Carrión-Bonilla, Edson F Abreu, Don E Wilson, Jesús E Maldonado and Marcelo Weksler. 2021. Variation in the Myotis keaysi Complex (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), with Description of A New Species from Ecuador. Journal of Mammalogy. gyab139. DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab139
El género Myotis comprende un grupo diverso de murciélagos vespertiliónidos de distribución mundial. Actualmente se reconocen veintiocho especies neotropicales. En este estudio evaluamos la variación molecular y morfológica del complejo M. keaysi, un clado de alta elevación topográfica?de murciélagos neotropicales caracterizados por una taxonomía compleja y una alta variación morfológica. La filogenia inferida a partir de secuencias de citocromo-b recuperó dos clados en base a muestras tradicionalmente asignadas a M. keaysi, con un 9% de divergencia genética entre sí. Ambos clados también se sugieren como especies putativas distintas mediante métodos de delimitación de especies moleculares. Los análisis morfológicos cualitativos y cuantitativos indicaron una discontinuidad fenotípica entre especímenes de los Andes centrales (incluido el holotipo de M. keaysi) y las tierras bajas occidentales de Ecuador, mostrando una marcada congruencia entre perspectivas moleculares y morfológicas. Por lo tanto, describimos una nueva especie para la región Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena, documentando caracteres diagnósticos externos y craneales por medio de comparaciones con otras especies neotropicales. Además, proporcionamos un diagnóstico modificado para el nuevo concepto de M. keaysi que proponemos
ADN histórico, Andes, delimitación molecular de especies, morfometría multivariada, Myotinae, neotrópicos, planicie ecuatoriana, taxonomía
