Western round-eared bat

The western round-eared bat (Lophostoma occidentalis) is a bat species found only on the Pacific coast of northwestern Ecuador.

Western round-eared bat

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Phyllostomidae
Genus: Lophostoma
Species:
L. occidentalis
Binomial name
Lophostoma occidentalis
Davis & Carter, 1978
Synonyms
  • Tonatia silvicola occidentalis Davis & Carter, 1978
  • Lophostoma silvicolum occidentalis Davis & Carter, 1978
  • Lophostoma aequatorialis Baker, Fonseca, Parish, Phillips & Hoffmann, 2004

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new subspecies of the white-throated round-eared bat in 1978 by Davis and Carter. As the white-throated round-eared bat was in the genus Tonatia at the time, the western round-eared bat had a trinomen of Tonatia silvicola occidentalis.[2] In 2011, it was recognized as a full species. In the same publication, it was established that Lophostoma aequatorialis was a junior synonym of L. occidentalis.[3] Its species name "occidentalis" is Latin for "western."

Description

Its forearm length is 51.2–56.8 mm (2.02–2.24 in). Its dorsal fur is long and dark brown, while the fur around its throat is whitish. It has white or pale gray patches of fur behind its ears.[3]

Range and habitat

It is found in South America, where its range includes Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It has been documented at elevations of 300–979 m (984–3,212 ft).[1]

Conservation

As of 2016, it is evaluated as a near-threatened species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this classification because its habitat, particularly that in western Ecuador, is being rapidly degraded and destroyed. Its population has likely declined by 20-25% in the last three generations due to habitat destruction.[1]

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References
  1. Solari, S. (2020). "Lophostoma occidentalis (amended version of 2016 assessment)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T88149174A166525772. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T88149174A166525772.en. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  2. Davis, W. B.; Carter, D. C. (1978). "A review of the round-eared bats of the Tonatia silvicola complex, with descriptions of three new taxa" (PDF). Occasional Papers Museum of Texas Tech University (53): 1–12.
  3. Velazco, P. M.; Cadenillas, R. (2011). "On the identity of Lophostoma silvicolum occidentalis (Davis & Carter, 1978) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa (2962): 1–20.
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