The orientation behaviour of the lesser spearnosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor (Chiroptera) in a model roost

The orientation behaviour of bats (Phyllostomus discolor, Phyllostomidae), flying inside an octagonal roost-like chamber (ø: 100cm; h: 150cm) was examined.It has been shown that the bats begin turning manoeuvres during flight by turning their head towards the direction they intend to proceed to. During early phases of the flights, cumulative navigation errors were evident, indicating that endogenous spatial information plays a major role in the orientation of the bats. During later phases of the flight this error is diminished again. So it can be concluded that the bats start to use exogenous spatial information for orientation while approaching the target.In order to investigate the relative importance of vision, echolocation and endogenous spatial information for approaching the roost, the landing lattices inside the test arena were changed for non-grid dummies. We found that: 1. combined visual and endogenous information are more important than echoacoustical cues, 2. the bats learned quickly to switch their orientation behaviour in order to get a better performance in avoiding the dummies, 3. the learning performance was influenced by the visual similarity of dummies and the real landing lattice.     

Conservation status and causes of decline of the threatened New Zealand Long-tailed Bat Chalinolobus tuberculatus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Historical anecdotes and preliminary monitoring since 1990 indicate that New Zealand Long‐tailed Bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus, Vespertilionidae) are now rare or absent at many sites where formerly they were common. Chalinolobus tuberculatus appeared to be common throughout New Zealand in the 1800s but by 1900–30 it was becoming scarce in many districts. Formal surveys in the South Island since 1990 either failed to find C. tuberculatus, or recorded bats in low numbers. Of eight sites where transect counts were undertaken, bats were recorded frequently at two sites (45–66% of counts; Eglinton and Dart Valleys), rarely at four sites (2.4–10.7% of counts), and were not recorded at the remaining two sites despite considerable survey effort. Of 10 sites where stationary counts using automatic detector units were used, no C. tuberculatus were recorded in three areas (153 nights combined), they were found rarely at six sites (2.1–21.0% of nights; 461 nights combined) and were recorded commonly only in the Eglinton Valley (85% of 120 nights). Assertions that C. tuberculatus are ‘common’ and that the conservation status is ‘secure’ are questionable and this review supports suggestions that the species should be classed as ‘Vulnerable’. Possible causes of decline have been suggested including clearance and logging of lowland forests, predation by introduced mammals and owls, competition for roost sites by introduced mammals, birds and wasps, and human interference and disturbance at roosting sites. However, authors’ claims have all been speculative and unsubstantiated. There has been no research undertaken to quantify these claims, and this is required urgently. The results of these preliminary surveys provide a new baseline against which future population trends might be compared. Increased effort using standardized monitoring techniques, applied at a national level, is required to confirm the possible trends and to help identify the best sites where conservation managers may attempt to restore the population level.     

Microsympatry in cryptic lowland salamanders (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Bolitoglossa subgenus Nanotriton) from north‐western Honduras: implications for taxonomy and regional biogeography

The taxonomy of the diminutive bolitoglossine salamanders of the subgenus Nanotriton has previously been a source of confusion among specialists. At various times, at least three different species of Nanotriton have been reported to occur in Honduras: Bolitoglossa nympha, B. occidentalis and B. rufescens. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S and cyt b from samples from three localities in Honduras (departments of Yoro, Copán and Cortés) confirms that most populations are assignable to B. nympha. Nine samples collected from a single locality on the northern slope of the Sierra de Omoa, between 120 and 190 m in elevation, were found to represent two distinct taxa: B. nympha and B. rufescens. Field examination of these nine specimens found them to be morphologically indistinguishable, including a lack of maxillary teeth in all specimens. As such, in situ identification of the two species in north‐western Honduras is problematic given the occurrence of the two taxa in microsympatry in at least one locality. The discovery of yet another divergent lineage of B. rufescens highlights the need for a taxonomic reassessment within this species complex.     

EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN DION (ZAMIACEAE)

Distribution, ecology, and morphology of the species of Dion are presented. The genus Dion is distributed in Mexico and in Honduras, where it is generally scattered and restricted to rocky, steep habitats. On the basis mainly of the morphology of the seeds, of the seedlings, and of the female cones, three natural groups were recognized. The first group, which is the most distinct morphologically, is made up of D. mejiae endemic to Honduras. The second group is made up of D. spinulosum and D. rzedowskii, whose distribution is restricted to a very small area in Mexico. They appear to be the only Dion spp. to be adapted to moist and shaded habitats. The third group is made up of the remaining spp. of Dion, all Mexican in distribution. They appear to be well adapted to open and dry habitats generally. Stems, female cones, and seeds show the trends to decreasing size from south to north in this group. A key of the genus is given.     

Bohartillidae,eine neue Familie der Fächerflügler (Insecta,Strepsiptera)

Für eine neue Strepsiptere aus Honduras, Bohartilla megalognatha, wird eine neue Familie, Bohartillidae, errichtet. Diese läßt sich mit den Myrmecolacidae, Elenchidae und Hylecthridae zu einer natürlichen Gruppe innerhalb der Überfamilie Stylopoidea zusammenfassen.     

Karyological study of four Japanese Myotis bats (Chiroptera,Mammalia)

Karyological investigations of four Japanese Myotis species were made based on Gand C-banding pattern analysis. It was revealed that the four species, M. nattereri, M. hosonoi, M. frater kaguyae and M. macrodactylus have all 2n=44 and their karyotypes are, excepting one chromosome pair, identical each other. The only difference in their karyotypes was found on the morphology of the chromosome no. 5. A minute acrocentric (A) was observed in M. nattereri, and a polymorphic (A) and an (M^h) which is a minute metacentric with totally heterochromatic arm was found in M. hosonoi. In M. f. kaguyae, pair no. 5 was a small submetacentric with a totally heterochromatic long arm (SM^h). Polymorphic (SM^h) and (M) which is a small metacentric derived from (SM^h) by a pericentric inversion was seen in M. macrodactylus. Such morphological differentiations of no. 5 were interpreted by assuming an increase of constitutive heterochromatin and also an inversion. The evolutionary pathway in the genus Myotis is assumed to be as follows: (A)(M^h)(SM^h)(M). This assumption was supported by the geographical evidence that the species with the (A) type no. 5 pair is widely distributed in the whole world but the others are restricted to Asia (M^h type) or only to Japan (SM^h and M types).     

Soft scale insects (Homoptera: Coccidae) on Tillandsia in Central America*

A new genus of soft scale insect (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae), Tillancoccus, and two new species T. mexicanus and T. tillandsiae are described and illustrated from the adult females. The new species are recorded from Tillandsia plants in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.     

Host-stage preference and functional response of aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hym.: Braconidae) on greenbug,Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hem: Aphididae)

Searching capacity is of great importance in the efficiency of natural enemies. In this research, the host-stage preference and functional response of Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) to different densities of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) were determined on Pishtaz wheat leaves at 25 ± 1°C, 60–70% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L:D). The host-stage preference was investigated by exposing 60 number of all nymphal instars and adults of greenbug to individual parasitoid females at eight replicates. Results indicated significant preference of D. rapae to second instar nymphs of S. graminum to perform functional response experiment. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 50, 64, 90 and 130 second instar nymphs of greenbugs were exposed to individual mated female wasps at 10 replicates for 24 h. Type of functional response was determined by logistic regression and its parameters, searching efficiency (a) and handling time (T _h), were estimated by non linear regression. The results indicated that the functional response of D. rapae was type III and values of searching efficiency, handling time and maximum rate of parasitism were calculated by two models as 0.1364 ± 0.084, 0.5761 ± 0.0179, 41.6594; 0.06489 ± 0.00652 (h^?1), 0.5628 ± 0.0173 (h) and 42.6439 (aphids/parasitoid/day), respectively.     

Genetic Relationships Between Brazilian Species of Molossidae and Phyllostomidae (Chiroptera, Mammalia)

A comparative analysis of G-banded karyotypes was performed for seven species of Chiroptera, representing two families (Phyllostomidae and Molossidae). Despite the differences in diploid and fundamental numbers, extensive homologies between six karyotypes were identified: A . planirostris, P. lineatus, S. lilium, G. soricina, P. hastatus (Phyllostomidae) and M. rufus (Molossidae). Robertsonian rearrangements and pericentric inversions account for the differences between the karyotypes of phyllostomid and molossid species. The homologies and rearrangements observed reinforce the monophiletic origin of phyllostomids and the inclusion of species in different subfamilies. In situ hybridization with genomic DNA revealed considerable conservation of the karyotypes, including C. perspicillata, that did not show G-band homologies with the other species analyzed. For the first time, chromosomal evidence is presented of a common origin for Phyllostomidae and Molossidae.     

Structural,ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evidence of testosterone effects and its ablation on the bulbourethal gland of the Artibeus planirostris bat (Chiroptera,Mammalia)

This study evaluated the effects of testosterone in the bulbourethral glands (BG) of the bat, Artibeus planirostris, by performing castration and posterior hormonal supplementation of the animals. The results showed a decrease in testosterone levels in animals 15 days after castration, which induced a small reduction in epithelium height, percentage of AR+ cells, and an increase in the amount of basal cells. This reduction became more severe in groups castrated for longer periods (19 and 22 days), where there was also an increase in apoptotic cells. Moreover, the hormonal supplementation increased testosterone levels (after 3 and 7 days of supplementation), causing a glandular reactivation that increased the epithelium height and AR expression. In conclusion, BG took longer to respond to ablation of testosterone than other reproductive glands, since it showed evident aspects of regression only in animals 22 days after castrated.     

Temperature regulation and metabolism of an Australian bat, Chalinolobus gouldii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) when euthermic and torpid

The thermal and metabolic physiology of Chalinolobus gouldii, an Australian vespertilionid bat, was studied in the laboratory using flow-through respirometry. Chalinolobus gouldii exhibits a clear pattern of euthermic thermoregulation, typical of endotherms with respect to body temperature and rate of oxygen consumption. The basal metabolic rate of euthermic Chalinolobus gouldii is approximately 86% of that predicted for a 17.5-g mammal and falls into the range of mass-specific basal metabolic rates ascribed to vespertilionid bats. However, like most vespertilionid bats, Chalinolobus gouldii displays extreme thermolability. It is able to enter into torpor and spontaneously arouse at ambient temperatures as low as 5 °C. Torpid bats thermoconform at moderate ambient temperature, with body temperature ≈ ambient temperature, and have a low rate of oxygen consumption determined primarily by Q ₁₀ effects. At low ambient temperature (< 10 °C), torpid C. gouldii begin to regulate their body temperature by increased metabolic heat production; they tend to maintain a higher body temperature at low ambient temperature than do many northern hemisphere hibernating bats. Use of torpor leads to significant energy savings. The evaporative water loss of euthermic bats is relatively high, which seems unusual for a bat whose range includes extremely arid areas of Australia, and is reduced during torpor. The thermal conductance of euthermic C. gouldii is less than that predicted for a mammal of its size. The thermal conductance is considerably lower for torpid bats at intermediate body temperature and ambient temperature, but increases to euthermic values for torpid bats when thermoregulating at low ambient temperature. Accepted: 22 August 1996     

Chromosomal homologies of the genera Vespertilio,Plecotus and Barbastella (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Q-banding (and partly G-banding) patterns of chromosomes were studied in three species of vespertilionid bats: Vespertilio murinus, Plecotus auritus and Barbastella barbastellus. The chromosomes of these species were identified and compared on the basis of the G-band diagram of Bickham (Cytologia 44, 1979) for the genus Myotis. The additional metacentric chromosomes which Vespertilio shows as compared to Myotis, differ in arm arrangements from those found in Plecotus and Barbastella. Banding patterns of P. auritus and B. barbastellus are nearly identical. It is remarkable that the smallest metacentric chromosome of P. auritus differs clearly in its banding pattern from that of the American P. townsendi. The significance of the results obtained for the systematic position of these species is discussed.     

A new species in the genus Amphipteryx Selys, 1853 (Odonata,Amphipterygidae) from Pico Bonito National Park,Honduras

The Mesoamerican damselfly genus Amphipteryx includes four species: Amphipteryx agrioides (Mexico), A. chiapensis (Mexico), A. meridionalis (Honduras) and A. nataliae (Verapaz, Guatemala). We describe a fifth species, Amphipteryx jaroli, from the cloud forest in Pico Bonito National park, Honduras. Additionally we include an up to date key of all species in the genus for both sexes.     

Phylogeny of African fruit bats (Chiroptera,Pteropodidae) based on complete mitochondrial genomes

Members of the family Pteropodidae, also known as Old World fruit bats, are represented in Africa by 14 genera and 44 species. Here, we sequenced 67 complete mitochondrial genomes from African and Asian pteropodids to better understand the evolutionary history of the subfamily Rousettinae, which includes most of the African species. An increased frequency of guanine to adenine transitions is detected in the mtDNA genomes of Macroglossus sobrinus and all species of Casinycteris and Scotonycteris. Our phylogenetic and molecular dating analyses based on 126 taxa and 15,448 characters indicate a low signal for deep relationships within the family, suggesting a rapid diversification during the Late Oligocene period of “warming.” Within the subfamily Rousettinae, most nodes are highly supported by our different analyses (all nucleotide sites, SuperTRI analyses of a sliding window, transversions only, coding genes only, and amino acid sequences). The results indicate the existence of four tribes: Rousettini—distributed from Africa through Mediterranean region and South Asia to South-East Asia; Eonycterini—found in Asia; and Epomophorini and Scotonycterini—restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. Although most interspecies relationships are highly supported, three parts of the Rousettinae mitochondrial tree are still unresolved, suggesting rapid diversification: (a) among the three subtribes Epomophorina (Epomophorus sensu lato, i.e., including Micropteropus, Epomops, Hypsignathus, Nanonycteris), Plerotina (Plerotes), and Myonycterina (Myonycteris, Megaloglossus) in the Late Miocene; (b) among Epomops, Hypsignathus, and other species of Epomophorina at the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary; and (c) among Myonycteris species in the Early Pleistocene. Within the Epomophorini, Stenonycteris lanosus emerged first, suggesting that lingual echolocation may have appeared in the common ancestor of Epomophorini and Rousettini. Our analyses suggest that multiple events of mtDNA introgression occurred within the Epomophorus species complex during the Pleistocene.     

Phylogenetics and biogeography of the broad-nosed bats, genus Platyrrhinus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

The Neotropical broad-nosed bats, genus Platyrrhinus, represent a well-defined monophyletic group of 14 recognized species. A recent study of morphological characters confirmed Platyrrhinus monophyly and species diagnosis, but offered little support to their intra-specific relationships. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of the genus, using dense taxonomic sampling in combination with four gene sequences representing both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA transmission systems. Our aim was to elucidate the phylogenetic structure among species, using the resulting 3341 bp of DNA. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference analyses produced similar topologies that confirm the monophyly of the genus Platyrrhinus and strongly support many previously unrecognized groups. Paraphyly of Platyrrhinus helleri and the unclear position of P. brachycephalus in the clades were also apparent in the data. Our biogeographical analysis suggests a Brazilian Shield origin for Platyrrhinus, followed by subsequent radiations of lineages in the Amazon Basin and Andes. Secondary dispersal from Amazonian and Andean centers is responsible for the Platyrrhinus inhabiting the Guianan Shield and the Pacific lowlands and Central America, respectively.     

An insular record of the Mayan cichlid Mayaheros urophthalmus (Günther, 1862) (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) on an island 70 km offshore in the Honduran Caribbean

Here we report the first record of the Mayan cichlid, Mayaheros urophthalmus, occurring on an offshore island 70 km from the mainland, the most distant record from the mainland to date. Specimens were collected during several ichthyological surveys on the island of Guanaja, Honduras in November 2019. Mayan cichlids are euryhaline fishes that perform very well in fresh, brackish and marine waters. It has been hypothesized that their high tolerance to salinity and potential of using costal waterways has facilitated the colonization and expansion of M. urophthalmus.     

Fruit digestion time,integrity and germination of seeds defecated by Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

We evaluated the effects on the integrity, germinability and mean germination time of three Ficus species eaten by Artibeus lituratus in captivity. The passage of seeds through the digestive tract of the animal did not interfere in the germinability and the mean germination time of F. organensis; however, it increased the germination of F. guaranitica and reduced the mean germination time of F. glabra. The mean time of digestion of A. lituratus presented no significant difference for Ficus species. The results showed that A. lituratus has a good potential for dispersal and can modify the germination of some Ficus species.     

Biochemical systematics of the Savi's bat (Hypsugo savii) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

In order to assess the controversial systematic position of the Savi's bat (Hypsugo savii), 43 ves-pertilionid bats belonging to 10 species were analyzed by mean of isozyme electrophoresis. The results were interpreted in two ways: first, we found that the amount of genetic differentiation between Hypsugo and the true Pipistrellus (D # 0.719) is of the same magnitude as the mean distance which separates the other pipistrelloid genera (D = 0.738). Secondly, the cladogram based on these biochemical results confirms the splitting of these “pipistrelles”, as Hypsugo is more closely related to Vespertilio than to any other palearctic genus. The other species analyzed in this study group themselves in a different clade, including Pipistrellus, Eptesicus and Nyctalus. This phylogenetic interpretation presents a testable hypothesis, which could be confirmed by an analysis of other loci or other allied species.     

Potentiation of the reductase activity of protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) by 19-nortestosterone,bacitracin, fluoxetine,and ammonium sulphate

Protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) in the endoplasmic reticulum catalyzes the rearrangement of disulphide bridges during folding of secreted proteins. It binds various molecules that inhibit its activity. But here, we looked for molecules that would potentiate its activity. PDI reductase activity was measured in vitro using di-eosin-oxidized glutathione as substrate. Its classical inhibitor bacitracin was found to exert a biphasic effect: stimulatory at low concentrations (～10^?6 M) and inhibitory only at higher concentrations (～10^?4–10^?3 M). The weak oestrogenic molecule bisphenol A was found to exert a weak inhibitory effect on PDI reductase activity relative to the strong oestrogens, ethynylestradiol, and diethylstilbestrol. Like 19-nortestosterone, fluoxetine was found to exert a potentiating effect on PDI reductase activity and their potentiating effects could be reversed by increasing concentrations of oestrogens. In conclusion, this paper provides the first identification of potentiators of PDI activity that are potential pharmaceuticals against pathologies affecting protein folding such as Alzheimer’s disease.     

Digestion time and intactness of seeds ingested by Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810) (Mammalia,Chiroptera)

Bats are responsible for many ecological services, such as seed dispersal of several plant species, contributing to the processes of succession and forest regeneration. A factor that can interfere with this process is the animal digestion, which can affect germination, altering the patterns of seedling distribution. The effects of seed passage through bats’ guts varies with the species, leading to some discrepancies in the literature. In this study, we tested the digestion time of one Phyllostomidae bat species, Sturnira lilium, in two Neotropical plants: Solanum paniculatum and Ficus organensis, and the effects on seed germination. The experiment was conducted in captivity and the germination tests were made in laboratory conditions. The results suggested that most seeds ingested by S. lilium are dispersed within 40 min for both species and the digestion seems not to significantly affect the germination of F. organensis, despite the slight acceleration of germination. In S. paniculatum, germination occurred only in the control (39%), whereas in the treatments, all the seeds remained dormant during the 25 experimental days. In this case, the digestion of S. lilium possibly contributes to the formation of seed banks, randomizing the temporal distribution of seedlings.