Richness and distribution of porcupines (Erethizontidae: Coendou) from Colombia

In spite of previous reviews, there is still no consensus on the information associated to the richness of the genus Coendou in Colombia. To clarify some issues concerning the distribution and the taxonomic identity of the species of Coendou in the country, we reviewed specimens from five natural history collections. We introduce the first record of Coendou ichillus from the Orinoco river basin of the country, extending the distribution of the species by more than 600 km to the north from previous known localities in Ecuador and Peru. Additionally, we present new records of C. pruinosus and C. quichua from the Amazonia and inter-Andean valleys, respectively. Only one skull presents the diagnostic characters of C. bicolor; thus, previous records of this species for the country were based on misidentifications. Coendou is distributed in seven of the nine geographic provinces of Colombia. Coendou prehensilis was found in five provinces and is expected to be present in the Amazonia, whereas C. pruinosus was documented in three provinces (North Andean, Orinoco and Guyana). The rest of the species of Coendou were distributed in one or two provinces. The richest provinces were North Andean and Orinoco with six and four Coendou species, respectively. The elevational ranges of C. prehensilis and C. pruinosus are revised to 0-1975 and 90-2200 m, respectively

Revising the diversity within the Dwarf Dog-faced Bat, Molossops temminckii (Chiroptera, Molossidae), with the revalidation of the endangered Molossops griseiventer

The genus Molossops includes two monotypic species of insectivore bats distributed in South America: Molossops neglectus and Molossops temminckii. Both can be differentiated, based on sizes, M. temminckii being smaller (forearm less than 33 mm). Despite being monotypic, at least two additional subspecies have been described for M. temminckii, of which M. temminckii griseiventer from the inter-Andean Valley of the Magdalena River in Colombia might represent a valid taxon. To test the taxonomic status of M. t. griseiventer, we reviewed specimens of M. temminckii from cis- and trans-Andean localities in Colombia. We used Cytochrome-b and Cytochrome Oxidase I comparisons to test the phylogenetic position of cis- and trans-Andean samples and compared qualitative morphology, morphometric and bioacoustics. Our results show that M. t. griseiventer is differentiated from cis-Andean specimens, providing further evidence of its validity at the species level. Furthermore, M. temminckii (sensu stricto) is also distributed in Colombia, but both M. griseiventer and M. temminckii are allopatric, with the Andes acting as a barrier. The specific identity of the specimens from the Caribbean Region of Colombia needs a new evaluation, but our results clearly show that the diversity of Molossops is underestimated

New records for Glyphonycteris Thomas, 1896 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Colombia [with erratum]

We present new records of bats for Colombia, including the first documented records of Glyphonycteris daviesi for the country, collected in the savanna ecosystems from the Orinoco Llanos, and a new record of G. silvestris from the inter-Andean valley of Magdalena River  that confirms  its presence in this region of the country

Distribución y conservación de los murciélagos del género Lonchorhina (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) en Colombia

Las especies del género Lonchorhina presentan una distribución poco conocida especialmente en Colombia donde se ha asociado la presencia de formaciones rocosas aisladas conocidas como “lajas” o inselbergs, como elementos restrictivos en la dispersión de estas especies al oriente de la Cordillera de los Andes. Revisamos especímenes en colecciones de mamíferos de Colombia y Ecuador con el fin de conocer la distribución de las especies de Lonchorhina y su posible asociación al oriente de los Andes con la presencia de inselbergs y realizar una evaluación de su categoría de amenaza. Presentamos nuevos registros de murciélagos vulnerables a la extinción L. marinkellei y L. orinocensis, extendiendo la distribución de L. marinkellei más de 300 km de su distribución conocida. Demostramos que tres de las cuatro especies de Lonchorhina en Colombia tienen distribución restringida a los inselbergs, siendo L. aurita la única excepción con una distribución amplia en el país, sin embargo, su distribución al oriente de los Andes en Colombia puede estar restringida a la presencia de los mismos elementos. Encontramos simpatría entre varias especies del género en varias localidades, lo cual, junto con sus diferencias morfológicas, pueden indicar procesos de partición de nicho entre las especies del género. A pesar de la información recolectada se mantiene la categoría de Vulnerable para las especies de Lonchorhina con distribución restringida en Colombia. Finalmente, enfatizamos que las acciones locales de conservación pueden aportar a la conservación de varias especies del género

First confirmed record of the LaVal’s Disk-winged Bat, Thyroptera lavali Pine, 1993 (Chiroptera, Thyropteridae), from Colombia

We document the first record of Laval’s Disk-winged Bat, Thyroptera lavali Pine, 1993, from the Amazon region of Colombia. This record increases to four the number of Thyroptera species in the country and extends the known range of T. lavali 428 km east and 338 km north from the nearest previous localities. The distribution of this species now comprises 11 localities from six ecoregions and five countries: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. We highlight the paucity of knowledge on bat species in the Colombian Amazon

Filling distribution gaps: first record of the Western Amazonian Dwarf Porcupine, Coendou ichillus Voss & Da Silva, 2001 (Mammalia, Rodentia), in the Napo Moist Forests ecoregion of Colombia

The Western Amazonian Dwarf Porcupine, Coendou ichillus Voss & Da Silva, 2001, is poorly known in South America. The species is known only from eight localities in the Amazon and Orinoquia regions of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In Colombia, it is known from one locality in the Orinoquía region, based on a specimen collected in 1956. We present a new distribution record which adds information about the presence of C. ichillus in the Napo Moist Forests ecoregion, in the Department of Putumayo, Amazon region of Colombia. We suggest that C. ichillus is more widely distributed in the Amazon region of the country. However, based on the number of known records to date, C. ichillus is the rarest species of porcupine

Registros incidentales de mamíferos de Leguízamo, Putumayo, región amazónica en el sur frontera de Colombia

Between February and September of 2015, we visited different sites along the Leguízamo jurisdiction, as part of an ornithological survey and education project (Acevedo-Charry et al. unpublished data). During fieldwork, some mammals were recorded, not systematically, through direct observation, tracks and incidental captures in mist-nets, which served as evidence and were used for taxonomic confirmation. Specimens collected were deposited in the “Alberto Cadena García” mammal collection of the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá (Appendix 1 in Supporting Information). In addition, some species were recognized from informal interviews with local people and were included as potentially present but acknowledging the need for further confirmation. Our aim is to present these incidental mammal records as a contribution and support of the ongoing research in the Amazon region of Colombia.Entre febrero y septiembre de 2015, visitamos diferentes sitios a lo largo de la jurisdicción de Leguízamo, como parte de una encuesta ornitológica y un proyecto educativo (Acevedo-Charry et al. Datos no publicados). Durante el trabajo de campo, se registraron algunos mamíferos, no sistemáticamente, a través de observación directa, huellas y capturas incidentales en redes de niebla, que sirvieron como evidencia y se utilizaron para la confirmación taxonómica. Las muestras recolectadas se depositaron en la colección de mamíferos "Alberto Cadena García" del Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia en Bogotá (Apéndice 1 en Información de apoyo). Además, algunas especies fueron reconocidas por entrevistas informales con personas locales y se incluyeron como potencialmente presentes, pero reconociendo la necesidad de una confirmación adicional. Nuestro objetivo es presentar estos registros incidentales de mamíferos como una contribución y apoyo de la investigación en curso en la región amazónica de Colombia

Beginning the quest: phylogenetic hypothesis and identification of evolutionary lineages in bats of the genus Micronycteris (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae)

Thirteen species of Neotropical bats of the genus Micronycteris are currently recognized and are allocated to four subgenera Leuconycteris, Micronycteris, Schizonycteris, and Xenonectes. Despite that, the presence of polyphyletic clades in molecular phylogenies suggests that its diversity is underestimated. Additionally, the incorrect identification of some genetic sequences, the incorrect assignation of available valid names, and restricted geographic sampling have biased the identification of independently evolutionary lineages within Micronycteris. In this study, several unknown genealogical lineages in the genus are identified and an updated phylogenetic hypothesis is proposed using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA fragments. The phylogenetic analyses congruently showed all individuals in four well-supported subgenera, but M. schmidtorum was revealed as the sister taxon of M. brosseti in the subgenus Leuconycteris. Twenty-seven different genealogical lineages were identified. These included eight confirmed species: M. brosseti, M. buriri, M. giovanniae, M. matses, M. schmidtorum, M. simmonsae, M. tresamici, and M. yatesi. Nineteen either allopatric or parapatric candidate species were also confirmed, two within the M. hirsuta complex, nine within the M. megalotis complex, seven within the M. minuta complex, and one corresponding to “M. sp.”. These results revealed an extensive undescribed diversity within each subgenus of Micronycteris. Nevertheless, the evolutionary processes associated with the specific radiations are poorly understood. This is just the beginning of the assessment of the taxonomy and systematics of Micronycteris, which requires additional integrative taxonomical approaches for its advance

Distribution and range extension of Anoura cadenai Mantilla-Meluk & Baker 2006 in the central and eastern Colombian Andes, and comments on the distribution of A. fistulata Muchhala, Mena-Valenzuela & Albuja 2005 in Colombia

Anoura cadenai Mantilla-Meluk & Baker, 2006 is currently known from the Pacific versant of the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia. Based on the review of additional specimens we present a range extension to the southern Cordillera Central and the western slopes of the Cordillera Oriental, extending its range by 30 km north-west, 138 km south, and 155 km southwest; our data also increase the known elevation of the species from 1600 to 1970 m a.s.l. Additionally, we present a summary of the current knowledge regarding the distribution of A. fistulata in Colombia

First confirmed records of the rare Short-eared Bat, Cyttarops alecto Thomas, 1913 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae), from the Orinoco Llanos of Colombia

We confirm the occurrence of the rare bat Cyttarops alecto in piedmont and alluvial plain savannas of the Orinoco Llanos. Our records are the first for the species in Colombia in 22 years. The species was known only from Neotropical rainforests and one locality in the Cerrado formation in Brazil. Our records are supported with voucher specimens that match the diagnosis and variability described for the species. With these records, we reduce the geographical distribution gap between known Trans-Andean and Cis-Andean localities of this species in the northern Neotropics