Research Article |
Corresponding author: Vinícius C. Cláudio ( vcclaud@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Wieslaw Bogdanowicz
© 2023 Vinícius C. Cláudio, Brunna Almeida, Roberto L. M. Novaes, Marcos A. Navarro, Liliani M. Tiepolo, Ricardo Moratelli.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Cláudio VC, Almeida B, Novaes RLM, Navarro MA, Tiepolo LM, Moratelli R (2023) Rediscovery of Histiotus alienus Thomas, 1916 a century after its description (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae): distribution extension and redescription. ZooKeys 1174: 273-287. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1174.108553
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Histiotus is a Neotropical genus of bat that currently includes 11 species. The systematics of Histiotus has been the focus of several studies over the last decades. However, no broad systematic revision has been made, and taxonomic issues such as synonymies, use of subspecies, and specimens that do not fit the description of valid species still persist, as pointed out by several authors. Histiotus alienus was described in 1916 and is known only by the holotype. Here we present a second record of H. alienus and an amended diagnosis of this species. We use qualitative, quantitative, and morphometric analyses based on data from 184 specimens of Histiotus and almost all valid species. Our amended diagnosis establishes the taxonomic limits of H. alienus, as well as a comprehensive comparison with congeners. We also explore new diagnostic characters for H. alienus and provide a few notes on the natural history of this species. Our results highlight skull similarities among Histiotus species and reinforce the usefulness of external morphology for their correct identification. Despite our new insights into the taxonomy of the genus, several taxonomic issues remain, and a comprehensive revision of the genus is needed.
Bats, diagnosis, morphology, Neotropics, taxonomy
Histiotus Gervais, 1856 is endemic to South America and currently includes 11 species (
Despite the continued efforts on the taxonomy of Histiotus, no broad revision has been hitherto made, and several problems are still persist in the systematics of the genus, such as the use of name combinations, subspecies and synonyms, specimens that do not fit the species description, and species that are poorly known (
Here, we present the second known record of H. alienus, a specimen captured by us in Paraná state in southern Brazil. In addition, we also provide an amended diagnosis of H. alienus based on our morphological analysis of the two known specimens, and we offer a detailed comparison with all congeners.
The second specimen of Histiotus alienus was captured during a field survey in November 2018 in the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre dos Campos de Palmas (Palmas Grasslands REVIS), which is a 16,600-ha protected area in southern Brazil. Palmas Grasslands REVIS encompasses mainly natural grasslands with small, isolated fragments of moist Araucaria forest and anthropized areas that include agriculture and silviculture patches (
For taxonomic comparisons and species redescription, we analyzed 184 specimens of Histiotus (Appendix
For qualitative, quantitative, and morphometric analyses, we used external (N = 3) and craniodental (N = 16) measurements based on, but not limited to,
Abbreviation | Measurement | Description |
---|---|---|
FL | Forearm length | Elbow to distal end of forearm including carpals |
EL | Ear length | Ear notch to tip of pinna |
WMLE | Width of medial lobe of ear | Maximum width of medial lobe of pinna |
MAL | Mandibular length | Canine to the condyloid process |
MAN | Mandibular toothrow length | From the lower canine to third molar |
COH | Height of coronoid process | Perpendicular height from tip of coronoid process to base of mandible |
GLS | Greatest length of skull, including incisors | Apex of upper internal incisors to occiput |
CCL | Condylo-canine length | Anterior surface of upper canines to a line connecting occipital condyles |
CIL | Condylo-incisive length | Apex of upper internal incisors to a line connecting occipital condyles |
BAL | Basal length | Least distance from apex of upper internal incisors to anterior margin of foramen magnum |
ZYG | Zygomatic breadth | Greatest breadth across outer margins of zygomatic arches |
MAB | Mastoid breadth | Greatest breadth across mastoid region |
BCB | Braincase breadth | Greatest breadth of globular part of braincase |
POB | Postorbital constriction | Least breadth across frontals posterior to postorbital bulges |
BAC | Breadth across canines | Greatest breadth across outer edges of crowns of upper canines including cingulae |
BAM | Breadth across molars | Greatest breadth across outer edges of crowns of upper molars |
MTL | Maxillary toothrow length | Upper canine to third molar |
M1M3 | Upper molar toothrow length | M1 to M3 |
WFH | Width of foramen magnum | Greatest width between internal margins of foramen magnum, in a horizontal axis |
For morphometric analyses, we employed a canonical variate analysis (CVA) using all 16 craniodental measurements. The CVA was used to discriminate samples and compare skull morphology among Histiotus species. The analysis was performed in R (
On 21 November 2018, we captured an adult male of H. alienus (Fig.
Cerro Chato Farm, Palmas Grasslands REVIS A general aspect of the Palmas Grasslands REVIS B interior of the riparian forest along Chopim River C aspect of the natural grassland and Araucaria forests vegetation D mist nets set at the edge of a forest fragment where the second specimen of Histiotus alienus was captured. Photos: A–C Liliani M. Tiepolo, 2018 D Marcos Navarro, 2018.
The only known record of H. alienus until now was from the type locality in Joinville, Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. With the new record from Palmas, Paraná state, we expand the geographic distribution of this species by about 280 km to the west at the same latitude (Fig.
Genus Histiotus Gervais, 1856
Holotype. Brazil • 1 ♀; Santa Catarina state, Joinville; sea level; W. Ehrhardt leg.;
Histiotus alienus is known only from two localities in southern Brazil, one each in Santa Catarina (Joinville) and Paraná (Palmas) states.
Histiotus alienus is distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: bicolored and dark dorsal fur; ventral fur bicolored and only slightly lighter than dorsal fur; ears intermediate in size when compared to congeners (EL ~ 27.5 mm) and slightly triangular; medial lobe of ear small (WMLE ~ 4.5 mm); transverse band of skin between pinnae low, 1–2 mm high at the edges and weakly fading toward the central portion, where it is practically absent.
Histiotus alienus is a medium-sized species within the genus (FL 43.3–44.5 mm; Table
External and skull measurements of Histiotus alienus. Acronyms and descriptions of the measurements are available in Table
Measurement |
|
|
---|---|---|
FL | 44.5 | 43.4 |
EL | 27.5 | 27.2 |
WMLE | 4.6 | – |
MAL | 12.1 | 11.9 |
MAN | 6.9 | 7.1 |
COH | 4.6 | – |
GLS | 18.3 | 16.9 |
CCL | 16.0 | 14.9 |
CIL | 17.0 | – |
BAL | 15.2 | – |
ZYG | 11.2 | 10.3 |
MAB | 9.1 | 8.9 |
BCB | 8.3 | 8.9 |
POB | 4.5 | 4.3 |
BAC | 5.0 | 4.5 |
BAM | 7.1 | 6.1 |
MTL | 6.4 | 5.8 |
M1M3 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
WFH | 4.1 | – |
Skull delicate; rostrum short and flattened dorsoventrally, straight in lateral profile; braincase slightly wider than the rostrum. Posterior region of the braincase rounded, regular. Nasal opening U-shaped in dorsal view. Frontals expanded laterally towards the orbit. Sagittal and lambdoidal crests weakly developed, not connected, occipital helmet absent. Triangular, flattened bony plate weakly developed where the sagittal and lambdoidal crests connect. Zygomatic arches thin and greatly widened medially. Basisphenoid pits absent. Palate extends well beyond molars, ending in a concave posterior edge, with a weakly developed medial spine (Fig.
Dental formula I 2/3, C 1/1, P 1/2, M 3/3 (×2) = 32. I1 separated, spatulate, and strongly bilobed; wide and short, with well-developed inner and outer cusps. I1 about three times the size of I2. I1not aligned to I2 on a transversal axis of the skull. I2 and C1 separated by a small gap, C1 with two slightly concave faces on the lingual region, and one slightly concave face on the labial region. P1 well developed, reaching half of C1 in height; P1 in contact with C1 and molars. M1 and M2 about the same size, almost square shaped, with W-shaped cusps. M3 reduced, triangular, with only 3 cusps. I1–I3 reduced, trilobed, and occupying the whole space between canines. P2 about three times P1 in height. Molars have well-developed cusps and decrease in size from M1 to M3.
Histiotus alienus most resembles H. colombiae Thomas, 1916, H. magellanicus (Philippi, 1866), and H. velatus (I. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1824), from which it can be differentiated based on a series of characters. From H. colombiae, H. alienus differs in the size of the ears (>30 mm in H. colombiae and ~ 27 mm in H. alienus), development of the membrane between pinnae (poorly developed in H. colombiae and about 2 mm high at the edges and vestigial at the center in H. alienus), and length of the dorsal fur (>13 mm in H. colombiae and ~11.5 mm in H. alienus). From H. magellanicus, H. alienus differs in the size of the ears (>27 mm in H. magellanicus, usually close to 23 mm, and ~27 mm in H. alienus), width of medial lobe of ear (~3 mm in H. magellanicus and ~4.5 mm in H. alienus), shape of ears (oval in H. magellanicus and slightly triangular in H. alienus), development of the membrane between pinnae (almost absent in H. magellanicus, and about 2 mm high at the edges and vestigial at the center in H. alienus). From H. velatus, H. alienus differs in the width of medial lobe of the ears (>6 mm in H. velatus and ~4.5 mm in H. alienus), development of the membrane between pinnae (~3 mm high throughout its extent in H. velatus, and about 2 mm high at the edges and vestigial at the center in H. alienus), the shape of the ears (noticeably triangular in H. velatus and slightly triangular in H. alienus), and the length of the dorsal fur (~10 mm in H. velatus and ~11.5 mm in H. alienus). From H. humboldti Handley, 1996, H. alienus differs in the lateral profile of the skull (sharply dished in H. humboldti and flat in H. alienus), development of the membrane between pinnae (~2 mm high throughout its extent in H. humboldti, and about 2 mm high at the edges and vestigial at the center in H. alienus), and color (orangish-brown dorsal fur and light-yellowish ventral fur in H. humboldti, and dark-brown dorsal fur and slightly lighter ventral fur in H. alienus). From H. mochica
In the CVA, the first canonical variate CV1 accounts for 41.3% of the variation and is influenced by size, as observed in the loadings of all variables, which are all uniformly negative (Figs
The amended diagnosis of Histiotus alienus aims to facilitate the diagnosis of the species both in the field and in museum collections. The review of specimens, mainly from southern Brazil, already in scientific collections could reveal additional records of H. alienus. The general results of our morphometric analysis indicate some degree of similarity among species in the shapes of their skulls, which demonstrates the usefulness of external morphology in correctly identifying Histiotus species.
We reinforce the need for a broad taxonomic review of Histiotus and suggest that other species not yet described likely exist, as attested by recent studies (
The lack of information on the natural history of H. alienus and its apparent rarity, with only two records in over more than 100 years, has led to its classification as Data Deficient by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (
The following researchers and curatorial staff provided access to specimens under their care: Rubén Barquez (CML); Bruce Patterson (
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES, Brazil) – Finance Code 001. VCC has also received support from Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ, Brazil; E-26/205.820/2022 and E-26/205.821/2022); and research grants from the Field Museum of Natural History and American Museum of Natural History. RLMN has received support from FAPERJ (E-26/204.243/2021; E26/200.631/2022 and E26/200.395/2022). RM has received financial support from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil; 313963/2018-5) and FAPERJ (E-26/200.967/2021).The fieldwork in Palmas was funded for LMT by CNPq (421292/2017–2).
Conceptualization: VCC. Formal analysis: VCC. Funding acquisition: LMT, RM. Investigation: BA, VCC, RLMMN, MAN. Methodology: VCC, BA, RLMMN, MAN. Project administration: LMT. Resources: RM. Supervision: RM. Visualization: VCC. Writing – original draft: VCC. Writing – review and editing: MAN, VCC, RLMMN, LMT, RM, BA.
Vinícius C. Cláudio https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3438-911X
Brunna Almeida https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1225-0683
Roberto L. M. Novaes https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1657-2807
Marcos A. Navarro https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5348-0987
Liliani M. Tiepolo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4488-2768
Ricardo Moratelli https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0942-6633
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.
List of specimens included in morphological and morphometric analyses. Voucher material consists of stuffed skins, fluid preserved specimens, and skulls deposited in the collections (see Materials and Methods). Localities are arranged alphabetically by species and major political units. Specimens marked with asterisks were included in the canonical variate analysis.
Histiotus alienus.—BRAZIL (N = 2): Paraná, Palmas, Refúgio de Vida Silvestre dos Campos de Palmas (
Histiotus colombiae.—COLOMBIA (N = 11): Cundinamarca, Bogotá (
Histiotus diaphanopterus.—BRAZIL (N = 1): Maranhão, Tranqueira (
Histiotus humboldti.—VENEZUELA (N = 4): Amazonas, Cerro Neblina, 2.8 km NE Pico Phelps (
Histiotus laephotis.—ARGENTINA (N = 12): Catamarca, Cuesta del Clavillo (CML 5253*); Catamarca, Paclin (CML 10833*); Jujuy, Cueva del Tigre (
Histiotus macrotus.—ARGENTINA (N = 6): Catamarca, 5 km NW Chumbicha (CML 7894); Catamarca, Dique el Potrero (CML 6061); Neuquén, Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (CML 9884); Salta, 20 km N Cafayate (CML 5406); Tucumán, Chicligasta (CML 6185); Tucumán, Pueblo Viejo (CML 6059). CHILE (N = 13): Santiago (
Histiotus magellanicus.—ARGENTINA (N = 8): Chubut, Río Turbio (
Histiotus mochica.—PERU (N = 1): Piura, Talara, Quebrada Pariñas, 9.6 km NE of Talara (
Histiotus montanus.—ARGENTINA (N = 11): Catamarca, Las Estarcias (CML 1758); Chubut, Pico Salamanca (28.12.11.1*); Cordoba, El Carrizal (
Histiotus velatus.—ARGENTINA (N = 9): Corrientes, Virasoro (