[Mammalogy • 2024] Molossus paranaensis • Revisiting Molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) Diversity: Exploring Southern Limits and Revealing A Novel Species in Argentina

 

    Molossus paranaensis Caraballo, Pavé, Argoitia, Schierloh & Chambi Velasquez, 

in Chambi Velasquez, Pavé, Argoitia, Schierloh, Piccirilli, Colombo, Beltrán, Cisterna et Caraballo, 2024. 

DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e122822

Abstract

Understanding species diversity and delineating their boundaries are crucial for effective management and conservation efforts. In the case of bats, species identification holds particular importance from an epidemiological standpoint. The genus Molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) encompasses 15 species distributed across the Neotropics, ranging from the southeastern United States to Argentina. This genus exhibits two contrasting patterns of variation: some species are cryptic, while others are morphologically distinct yet genetically similar. This study explores the diversity of Molossus in Argentina through a molecular phylogenetic approach. We analyzed sequences from three molecular markers (cyt b, COI, and FGB) along with morphology data obtained from a sample of 64 individuals. Uni- and multivariate analyses of external and cranial measurements were conducted, alongside comparisons of external and cranial characteristics among species. Based on molecular and morphological differences, we describe a new species within the Molossus genus. This newly discovered species exhibits a broad distribution spanning the Paraná River basin across three distinct ecoregions. It is noteworthy that this species is pseudo-cryptic with respect to similar-sized species such as M. molossus and M. melini. Additionally, it is important to mention that all species in Argentina have overlapping distribution ranges. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of Molossus bats in Argentina, employing molecular and morphological analyses. The discovery of a new species underscores the ongoing importance of comprehensive research efforts in understanding and conserving bat populations in the Neotropics.

Keywords: Mastiff bats, molecular phylogeny, morphology, morphometry, pseudo-cryptic species, South America

The skull of the holotype of Molossus paranaensis (MF-ZV-M 1494). 
Lateral view of skull and mandible (A), and frontal (B), ventral (C) and dorsal (E) views.
Scale bar = 10 mm.

Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views of the skin of the holotype of  Molossus paranaensis (MFA-ZV-M 1494), adult male.

Scale bar = 10 mm. 

Family Molossidae Gervais, 1856

Genus Molossus É. Geoffroy, 1805

 Molossus paranaensis Caraballo, Pavé, Argoitia, Schierloh & Chambi Velasquez, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Molossus paranaensis is distinguished from all other Molossus species by the following combination of characters: medium size (FA 39.4–42.8 mm; GLS w.i 17.3–19.2 mm; PC 3.8–4.6 mm; LMxT 6.3–7.4 mm); dorsal coloration medium brown (cinnamon to grayish brown sensu Ridgway 1912) with individual hairs bicolored, with a large and pale basal band reaching 1/4 to 1/2 to of total length of the hair, the venter is paler than dorsum (Fig. 4); in frontal view the rostrum is triangular (Fig. 5B), and the lambdoidal crests are moderately developed (Fig. 5).

Etymology: The name paranaensis is bestowed in reference to the extended distribution of the new species along the Paraná River basin, one of the largest rivers in South America. Paraná is a word from the Mbyá people who speak Tupí (one of the native languages in Argentina), pará = “sea” and nã = “similar to” or “like”, which means “that looks like the sea” or “similar to the sea”. This river shelters a great biodiversity and natural beauty.

 Micaela A. Chambi Velasquez, Romina Pavé, María A. Argoitia, Pablo Schierloh, María G. Piccirilli, Valeria C. Colombo, Fernando J. Beltrán, Daniel M. Cisterna and Diego A. Caraballo. 2024. Revisiting Molossus (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Molossidae) Diversity: Exploring Southern Limits and Revealing A Novel Species in Argentina. Vertebrate Zoology. 74: 397-416. DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e122822

[Mammalogy • 2021] Molossus melini • A New Species of Molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from Argentina, in the Pampa Ecoregion

Molossus melini

Montani, Tomasco, Barberis, Romano, Barquez & Díaz, 2021

  DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab078

 twitter.com/Mammalogists

 

Abstract

Fourteen species of bats in the genus Molossus currently are recognized in the Neotropical region; only three are known from Argentina. Here, we describe a new species based on specimens collected in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, in the Pampa ecoregion. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by its general strong orange coloration, forearm length > 41 mm, dorsal hairs bicolor and long (~5 mm), infraorbital foramen laterally oriented, and long and forward-projected (pincer-like) upper incisors. The external and cranial morphology of the new species are described and comparisons made with other species of similar size and with those present in its distributional area. Wilcoxon tests and multivariate analyses (nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination and PERMANOVA) were carried out to determine the morphometric differences between the new species and other seven species of Molossus. The species tree, estimated by *BEAST from the concatenation of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, suggests that Molossus sp. nov. is basal within the clade formed by {{M. aztecus, M. rufus}, {{M. currentium, M. pretiosus}, M. sinaloae}} with a posterior probability of 0.82.

Keywords: Argentina, Molossus, new species, Pampa ecoregion, Santa Fe province

skull of the holotype of Molossus melini (MG-ZV-M 339).

Scale bar = 5 mm.

Molossus melini
 the paratype alive (MG-ZV-M 338) in the type locality.

Family Molossidae Gervais, 1856

Genus Molossus É. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1805

Molossus melini sp. nov.

Etymology: The name melini is in reference to Cacique Melin, leader of “Los Ranqueles,” an indigenous tribe from the region, who was murdered on the shores of the Melincué lagoon (named for Melin and his son, Cue, also killed in the same battle), near the type locality of the species. Many local legends surround these indigenous people and the lagoon.

M. Eugenia Montani, Ivanna H. Tomasco, Ignacio M. Barberis, Marcelo C. Romano, Rubén M. Barquez and M. Mónica Díaz. 2021. A New Species of Molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from Argentina. Journal of Mammalogy. gyab078. DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab078

 twitter.com/Mammalogists/status/1427978597441019918

Se reconocen actualmente 14 especies de Molossus en el Neotrópico, de las cuales tres están presentes en Argentina. Describimos en el presente trabajo una especie nueva de este género sobre la base de ejemplares procedentes de la ecorregión Pampeana de la provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina. La nueva especie se distingue de las otras especies de Molossus por su coloración general fuertemente anaranjada, longitud del antebrazo > 41 mm, pelos dorsales largos (~5 mm) y bicolores, foramen infraorbitario orientado lateralmente, e incisivos superiores largos y proyectados anteriormente como pinzas. Incluimos la descripción de la morfología externa y craneal de la nueva especie, comparando esta última con especies similares, así como con aquellas presentes en su área de distribución. Llevamos a cabo pruebas de Wilcoxon y análisis multivariados (NMDS y PERMANOVA) para determinar las diferencias morfométricas entre la nueva especie y otras siete especies de Molossus. El árbol de especies, estimado por *BEAST a partir de la concatenación de genes mitocondriales y nucleares, sugiere que Molossus sp. nov. se ubica, con una probabilidad posterior de 0.82, dentro del clado formado por {{M. aztecus, M. rufus}, {{M. currentium, M. pretiosus}, M. sinaloae}}.

Argentina, Ecorregión Pampeana, Molossus, nueva especie, provincia de Santa Fe

[Mammalogy • 2021] Cynomops kuizha • A New Species of Cynomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from the northwestern Slope of the Andes

Cynomops kuizha

Arenas-Viveros, Sánchez-Vendizú, Giraldo & Salazar-Bravo. 2021

 DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0068

  twitter.com/Novatax_Col 

Abstract

The systematics and taxonomy of the broadly distributed bats of the genus Cynomops has changed considerably in the last few years. Among the major changes, Cynomops abrasus was split into two species of large-bodied forms (Cynomops mastivus and C. abrasus) distributed east of the Andes. However, large Colombian specimens identified as C. abrasus from the western side of the Andes had yet to be included in any revisionary work. Phylogenetic analysis performed in this study, using mtDNA sequences (Cytochrome-b), revealed that these Colombian individuals are more closely related to Cynomops greenhalli. Morphological and molecular data allowed us to recognize populations from western Colombia, western Ecuador and northwestern Peru, as members of a new species of Cynomops. Characters that allow for its differentiation from C. greenhalli include a larger forearm, paler but more uniform ventral pelage, more globular braincase, and well-developed zygomatic processes of the maxilla (almost reaching the postorbital constriction). This study serves as another example of the importance of including multiple lines of evidence in the recognition of a new species. Given its rarity and the advanced transformation of its habitat, this new species is particularly important from a conservation perspective.

Keywords: dog-faced bat; integrative taxonomy; South America; western Andes

Cynomops kuizha sp. nov. (UV 14608).

Family Molossidae

Genus Cynomops Thomas, 1920

Cynomops kuizha 

Molossops brachymeles: Alberico and Naranjo 1982: 141 part, not Peters 1866.

Molossops abrasus: Alberico et al. 2000: 56, Solari et al. 2013: 328, part, not Temminck 1826.

Cynomops greenhalli: Pacheco et al. 2009: 12, Tirira 2012: 222, part, not Goodwin 1958.

Etymology: Kuizha is the local Awapit word for “dog” (Ministerio de Educación 2009). As Cynomops are known as dog-faced bats, the use of this noun is meant as a celebration of the heritage of, and to honor, the Awa people. Long-time inhabitants of the Andes in current southwestern Colombia and northern Ecuador, the Awa people are inheritors of ancient knowledge and conservation allies of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Kuizha is treated here as a noun standing in apposition to the generic name.

 

Daniela Arenas-Viveros, Pamela Sánchez-Vendizú, Alan Giraldo and Jorge Salazar-Bravo. 2021. A New Species of Cynomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from the northwestern Slope of the Andes. Mammalia. DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0068

  twitter.com/Novatax_Col/status/1383549272075882499

[Mammalogy • 2018] Diversity, Morphological Phylogeny, and Distribution of Bats of the Genus Molossus E. Geoffroy, 1805 (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Brazil

Molossus molossus (Pallas, 1766) 

[Velvety Free-tailed Bat] in Rio Doce State Park, Brazil

in Loureiro, Gregorin & Perini, 2018

   sciencepress.mnhn.fr

 Photo: Marco A. R. Mello. instagram.com/marmello77 

Tenuous descriptions of many species and subspecies of mastiff bats make the taxonomy of Molossus E. Geoffroy, 1805 confusing and unstable. Molossus is one of the most diverse genera of free tailed bats in the pantropical family Molossidae Gervais, 1856. Given their impressive variation due to geography, sex, and ontogeny, and incomplete knowledge about species boundaries, a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus is needed. In addition, the level of genetic divergence, even among morphologically well-characterized species is low, often making diagnosis of groups difficult and likely resulting in an underestimation of the number of species. Brazil has a wide territory harboring many different physiognomies, but with no study focusing on the morphological variation and taxonomy of Molossus available. Therefore, we have analyzed qualitative and quantitative characters from 493 specimens belonging to nine species of Molossus, and conducted a wide comparative morphological analysis of the species occurring in Brazil. In addition, we propose a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships within Molossus based on morphology, establishing the morphological characters for diagnosis and identification of species, and update the geographic distribution of Molossus species in Brazil, with range extensions for four taxa. Six species, Molossus rufus E. Geoffroy, 1805, Molossus molossus (Pallas, 1776), Molossus coibensis Allen, 1904, Molossus aztecus Saussure, 1860, Molossus currentium Thomas, 1901, and Molossus pretiosus Miller, 1902 occur in Brazil. We bring support for the synonymy of Molossus bondae Allen, 1904 with M. currentium, as suggested by several authors.

KEYWORDS: Brazil, Mastiff bats, morphology, identification key, phylogenetic relationships.

Livia Oliveira Loureiro, Renato Gregorin and Fernando Araujo Perini. 2018. Diversity, Morphological Phylogeny, and Distribution of Bats of the Genus Molossus E. Geoffroy, 1805 (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Brazil. ZOOSYSTEMA. 40(18); 425-452.  

 sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiques/zoosystema/40/18

  instagram.com/p/BnRYu4wh8Dj/?taken-by=marmello77

 twitter.com/Publi_MNHN/status/1042720245826445313

[Mammalogy • 2018] Molossus fentoni • A New Species of Mastiff Bat (Chiroptera, Molossidae, Molossus) from Guyana and Ecuador

Molossus fentoni

Loureiro, Lim & Engstrom, 2018

  DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.01.008  

Abstract

We describe a new species of mastiff bat in the genus Molossus (Molossidae), which was previously confused with the common and widely distributed M. molossus, from Guyana and Ecuador based on morphological and molecular differences. It is diagnosed by the following set of morphological characteristics: bicolored dorsal pelage, rounded anterior arch of the atlas, triangular occipital bone, and smaller body and skull size. In a molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, maximum likelihood and parsimony trees recovered eight clades in the genus and a polyphyletic relationship for the M. molossus species complex. The new species was recovered in a well-supported clade that can be genetically distinguished from other species in the genus by its high level of sequence divergence based on the mitochondrial CO1 gene (8.0–10.1%) and on the nuclear gene beta fibrinogen (1.0–3.1%). It is broadly sympatric with M. molossus sensu stricto in northern South America, but morphologically distinct and genetically divergent.

 Keywords: Molossidae, New species, Phylogenetics, South America, Taxonomy

Fig. 5. Holotype of Molossus fentoni sp. nov. (ROM 122583). Adult male with a medium brown dorsal pelage.

Fig. 4. Dorsal, ventral, posterior, and lateral views of the skull of the holotype of Molossus fentoni sp. nov.

Molossus fentoni sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: A set of traits distinguishes Molossus fentoni from other Molossus. In M. fentoni the infra-orbital foramen is laterally directed; the basioccipital pits are rounded and of moderate depth; the occipital is triangular in posterior view; the upper incisors are thin and long with parallel tips and project forward in an oblique plane relative to the anterior face of the canines (Fig. 4); and the anterior arch of the atlas is rounded (Fig. 6).

Distribution: Molossus fentoni is currently known from the administrative regions of Potaro-Siparuni and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo in Guyana and in Orellana province in Ecuador. Although, it has not been documented in the intervening 2000 km of lowland Amazonian forest, we anticipate that it will be found to have a broader distribution then initially represented in our collections. One individual of M. fentoni was collected in syntopy with M. coibensis, M. m. molossus, and M. rufus at ... east of Pompeya Sur, Orellana, Ecuador on 18 May, 2006.

Etymology: This species is named in honour of M. Brock Fenton, Professor Emeritus, Western University, London, Ontario, and one of the world’s foremost researchers in bat ecology and behaviour. He was born in Guyana to Canadian parents and conducted fieldwork in the country in 1970.

Taxonomic remarks: Husson (1962) designated the lectotype of M. molossus as the larger of the two bats described by Buffon and Daubenton (1763). Later, Husson (1962) restricted the type locality of M. molossus to Martinique, which previously had only been designated as the Americas in the first citation of this specimen (Buffon and Daubenton, 1759). Specimens of M. molossus from Martinique were morphologically analyzed in our study and have all the characteristics described above for M. molossus, and not for M. fentoni. In addition, the DNA sample of M. molossus from Martinique clustered with several other samples of M. molossus from the mainland in the phylogenetic trees (Fig. 2), such as Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil, corroborating its affiliation with M. molossus and the distinction from M. fentoni.

Fig. 8. Schematic comparison of cranial features in Molossus.
A and B – Posterior view; C and D – frontal view; E and F – Ventral view. Numbers represent characters described in the text. 1 – Lambdoidal crest and occipital complex; 2 – Sagittal crest; 3 – Mastoid process; 4 – Infra-orbital foramen; 5 – Upper incisors; 6 – Rostrum shape; 7 – Basioccipital pits.

 Livia O. Loureiro, Burton K. Lim and Mark D. Engstrom. 2018. A New Species of Mastiff Bat (Chiroptera, Molossidae, Molossus) from Guyana and Ecuador. Mammalian Biology. 90; 10-21.  DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.01.008 

ResearchGate.net/publication/322828884_A_new_species_of_Molossus_from_Guyana_and_Ecuador

 twitter.com/EE_Qutierrez/status/960557973075578882

 twitter.com/BurtonLim/status/960197266102349824

[Mammalogy • 2018] Uncovering the Diversity of Dog-faced Bats from the Genus Cynomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae), with the Redescription of C. milleri and the Description of Two New Species; Cynomops freemani & C. tonkigui

Cynomops freemani 

Moras, Gregorin, Sattler & Tavares, 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.12.005  

si.edu 

Abstract

Until recently the genus Cynomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) comprised six species of fast flying, aerial insectivorous bats distributed throughout the Neotropics. However, our revisionary study have shown that the diversity of this taxon was underestimated as molecular and morphological data supported the recognition of C. milleri as a full species and revealed two previously unrecognized, small species of Cynomops. These newly recognized taxa are Cynomops freemani sp. nov. from the Canal Zone region, Panama, sister taxon to C. mexicanus, and Cynomops tonkigui sp. nov. from the eastern Andes of Ecuador and Colombia, sister taxon of C. milleri. We also describe the calls of Cynomops freemani sp. nov. that may be useful for the recognition of these species during field inventories based on ultrasonic recording techniques. We elevate the currently known diversity of Cynomops to eight species, as we also revalidate C. milleri providing an emended diagnosis and a redescription of this taxon.

Keywords: Free-tailed bats, taxonomy, acoustic identification, Cynomops freemani sp. nov, Cynomops tonkigui sp. nov

Systematics

Family Molossidae Gervais 1856

Genus Cynomops Thomas 1920

Cynomops milleri (Osgood, 1914)

Miller’s Dog-faced Bat

two Freeman’s Dog-Faced bats Cynomops freemani discovered in Gamboa, Panama.

Photo: Elias Bader

Cynomops freemani, new species 

Freeman’s Dog-faced Bat

ETYMOLOGY: The name “freemani” is in honor to Dr. Patricia W. Freeman in recognition of her influential contributions to the study of the morphology, systematics, and evolutionary relationships of molossid bats (e.g. Freeman, 1981).

DISTRIBUTION: Cynomops freemani is known from lowlands (23–53 m a.s.l.) of the Pacific coast of the Canal Zone region in Panama (Fig. 3).

 Waorani dog-faced bat Cynomops tonkigui 

Photo: Diego Tirira

Cynomops tonkigui, new species 

Waorani Dog-faced Bat

ETYMOLOGY: The name “tonkigui” is used as a noun in apposition, and means "bat" in the Waorani language. The name honors the Waorani people who inhabit the type locality (Tirira, 2012)

DISTRIBUTION: Cynomops tonkigui is known from the lowlands (195–529 m a.s.l.) of northeastern South America, and the eastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador and Colombia (Fig. 3).

 Ligiane M. Moras, Renato Gregorin, Thomas Sattler and Valéria da C. Tavares. 2018. Uncovering the Diversity of Dog-faced Bats from the Genus Cynomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae), with the Redescription of C. milleri and the Description of Two New Species. Mammalian Biology. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.12.005 

ResearchGate.net/publication/321884329_Uncovering_the_diversity_of_dog-faced_bats_from_the_genus_Cynomops_Chiroptera_Molossidae 

   

Two New Dog-Faced Bat Species Discovered in Panama and Ecuador newsdesk.si.edu/releases/two-new-dog-faced-bat-species-discovered-panama-and-ecuador
More sky puppies! Scientists discover two new species of dog-faced bat insider.si.edu/2018/01/sky-puppies-scientists-discover-two-new-species-dog-faced-bat