More Urbanization, Fewer Bats: The Importance of Forest Conservation in Honduras

Urbanization is a phenomenon that results in fragmentation and eventual destruction of forests. Suburbanization is a subset of that same phenomenon in which fragmentation has resulted in the retention of small patches of the original forest and surviving old growth trees. Alternatively, the area surrounding the central city had been cleared for agricultural use and the suburban residents have planted many trees in parks and private property. This fragmentation will of course affect many species of bats, including species of the family Phyllostomidae. In this work, we estimate and compare the diversity of phyllostomid bats in three landscapes in Honduras: forests, suburban, and urban areas, from 2015 to 2018. Concurrently, we compared bat activity patterns based on the hour and percentage of moonlight at the time they were captured, and we compared external measurements, forearm and ear length. Urban areas are the least diverse and exhibited the lowest abundance. The forearm and ear length were significantly different only between forests and urban areas. The degree of lunar phobia also differed among those landscapes, but the time of capture did not differ. This is the first attempt to describe the activity patterns of phyllostomids in these studied areas and the effect of urbanization on Honduran bats. As expected, we found that from forests to cities, the diversity and abundance of phyllostomids decreased. However, there are many gaps in our knowledge of how totally or partially urbanized areas are affecting phyllostomid bats in Honduras

Sobre la distribución de tres especies de murciélagos filostómidos (Chiroptera), con registros adicionales para el Departamento de Gracias a Dios, Honduras

The high species richness of the bat subfamily Phyllostominae is considered indicative of a well-preserved ecosystem; however, is one the less studied groups in Honduras. In this document, we present the first records of Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856) and Tonatia bakeri Williams, Willig & Reid, 1995, and the second of Lophostoma silvicolum d’Orbigny, 1836 for the department of Gracias a Dios, in eastern Honduras. Based on historical reports for these species, these records represent the fifth-known locality for C. Auritus and L. silvi­colum, and the second for T. Bakeri in Honduras, representing how poor these species are known in the country. We recommend future studies which include population trends, evaluation of their roosting sites, and the estab­lishment of their conservational status in the studied areasLa alta riqueza de especies de la subfamilia Phyllostominae es considerada indicio de un ecosistema bien con­servado; sin embargo, es uno de los grupos menos estudiado en Honduras. En este documento presentamos los primeros registros de Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856) y Tonatia bakeri Williams, Willig & Reid, 1995 para el departamento de Gracias a Dios (este de Honduras), y el segundo de Lophostoma silvicolum d’Orbigny, 1836 para el mismo departamento. Según los registros históricos de estas especies, estos registros representan la quinta localidad conocida para C. Auritus y L. Silvicolum, y la segunda para T. Bakeri en Honduras, demostrando lo poco que se sabe de esas especies en el país. Sugerimos realizar estudios de estas especies incluyendo la evaluación de sus refugios, y determinar las tendencias poblacionales para establecer su estado de conservación en las áreas de estudio

Los xenartros de Honduras: nuevos registros, principales amenazas y comentarios sobre su estado de conservación

The Xenarthra are one of the least studied mammalian groups in Honduras. Their ecology, natural history, and distribution in the country are poorly known. Here we compile and discuss, for the first time, the available information about the seven species of Xenarthra that occur in Honduras. We also present new distribution records and comment on their main threats. The lack of specific scientific studies, poaching, illegal traffic, cultural beliefs, and deforestation are among the main threats to xenarthrans in Honduras.Xenarthra es uno de los grupos de mamíferos menos estudiados en Honduras, y de los que menos se sabe sobre su ecología, historia natural y distribución en el país. Aquí recopilamos y discutimos, por primera vez, la información disponible de cada una de las siete especies de Xenarthra que ocurren en Honduras. También presentamos nuevos registros de distribución y comentamos sobre las principales amenazas. La falta de estudios científicos, la cacería y el tráfico ilegal, creencias culturales y la deforestación están entre algunas de las principales amenazas para los xenartros en Honduras.Fil: Turcios Casco, Manfredo A.. Instituto Nacional de Conservación y Desarrollo Foresta; HondurasFil: Ávila Palma, Hefer D.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras; HondurasFil: Martínez, Marcio. Instituto Nacional de Conservación y Desarrollo Foresta; HondurasFil: Trejo Ordoñez, Eduardo J.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras; HondurasFil: Meza Flores, David E.. Asociación de Investigación para el Desarrollo Ecológico y Socioeconómico; HondurasFil: Castañeda, Franklin. Panthera; HondurasFil: King, Travis. Washington State University; Estados UnidosFil: Thornton, Daniel. Washington State University; Estados UnidosFil: Superina, Mariella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentin

First records of Mimon cozumelae Goldman, 1914 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve in northeastern Honduras

Mimon cozumelae Goldman, 1914 is a poorly studied phyllostomid bat with occurrence records in Honduras dating from 17 years ago. During a survey from 13–22 September 2018 in the core of the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, northeastern Honduras, we captured two M. cozumelae in a sample of 43 individuals recognized in 11 bat species. These records represent the fifth and sixth localities of M. cozumelae in the country and the first record since 2001. We recommend that M. cozumelae be included in the conservation and management plan of the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve and in the conservation lists of bats in Honduras

Rediscovery of Vampyressa thyone (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in Honduras: updated distribution and notes on its conservation

In Central America, Vampyressa is represented by two species, Vampyressa elisabethae and V. thyone. The latter is the only representative of the genus in Honduras and the most recent record was in 2007. Six surveys were carried out in the Departments of Cortés, Atlántida and Gracias a Dios. Only seven individuals of V. thyone were recorded between March 2016 and September 2017. The low abundance of V. thyone supports the fact that it is an uncommon species in the country; however, these records update the distribution in northern Honduras. We recommend systematic bat assessments on the three protected areas in which we recorded V. thyone for a better comprehension of the local populations on this species in the country

A systematic revision of the bats (Chiroptera) of Honduras: an updated checklist with corroboration of historical specimens and new records

During the last century, survey efforts for mammals in Honduras have been few and most distributional and conservation assessments of bats have been based on historical records. Taxonomy of many records has changed. Moreover, a number of supposed Honduran occurrences are based on records from bordering countries without confirmation by a Honduran voucher. Therefore, the list of bats of Honduras lacks precision. Here, we update the number of species in the country, including taxonomic changes not reflected in recent works and new records based on museum specimens. The known number of species for Honduras is 113 with seven expected (Cormura brevirostris, Lampronycteris brachyotis, Mesophylla macconnelli, Molossus coibensis, M. pretiosus, Thyroptera discifera and Trinycteris nicefori), based on records in adjoining countries. We provide a new record for Honduras of Natalus lanatus. We confirm the presence of Cynomops greenhalli and Diaemus youngii and clarify the taxonomic status of Artibeus intermedius, Chiroderma gorgasi, Eumops ferox, Gardnerycteris keenani, Lasiurus frantzii, Myotis pilosatibialis, Molossus and Pteronotus species, and Tonatia bakeri. We recommend a reassessment of the conservation status of the bats of Honduras considering recent changes and that a number of species (e.g. Choeronycteris mexicana) have not been observed since their reports in historical records. This requires an update of the taxonomic identification keys for Honduras. The updated checklist below demonstrates the high biodiversity of Honduran bats but is also an example of how poorly many groups have been studied since they were first recorded in the country

Rare or misidentified? On the external identification of the neglected Artibeus inopinatus Davis & Carter, 1964 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in Honduras

For years, the identification of Artibeus species has been controversial due to the overlap of morphometric characteristics between species. From February 2015 to September 2019, we sampled 25 sites in 10 departments of Honduras, and captured 81 Artibeus individuals using mist-nets. We determined the morphometric measurements that may be helpful in the identification of adult individuals of the Honduran Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus inopinatus, in the field. We analyzed 648 morphometric measurements using a linear discriminant analysis, and determined that the forearm length, third metacarpal length, the length of the second phalanx of digit III, and body length are the main characteristics for the external identification of A. inopinatus

Rare or misidentified? On the external identification of the neglected Artibeus inopinatus Davis & Carter, 1964 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in Honduras

For years, the identification of Artibeus species has been controversial due to the overlap of morphometric characteristics between species. From February 2015 to September 2019, we sampled 25 sites in 10 departments of Honduras, and captured 81 Artibeus individuals using mist-nets. We determined the morphometric measurements that may be helpful in the identification of adult individuals of the Honduran Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus inopinatus, in the field. We analyzed 648 morphometric measurements using a linear discriminant analysis, and determined that the forearm length, third metacarpal length, the length of the second phalanx of digit III, and body length are the main characteristics for the external identification of A. inopinatus

Additions of host associations and new records of bat ectoparasites of the families Spinturnicidae, Nycteribiidae and Streblidae from Honduras

We captured mormoopids, phyllostomids, and vespertilionids in Honduras to collect bat ectoparasites. Two species of Spinturnicidae (Acari) are the first reports of this family in Honduras. One species of Basilia Miranda Ribeiro, 1903, and four of Streblidae are recorded for the first time in Honduras. With these results, the current species number of each family for Honduras are two species of Spinturnicidae, three of Nycteribiidae, and 48 of Streblidae. We compared the number of species of Streblidae and bats in Honduras to highly sampled countries in Central and South America. Clearly, more effort is still needed in Honduras, although this is the third attempt to study the bat ectoparasites in Honduras