Title
A new species of Cynomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from the northwestern slope of the Andes
Date Issued
01 May 2021
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Publisher(s)
De Gruyter Open Ltd
Abstract
The systematics and taxonomy of the broadly distributed bats of the genus Cynomops has changed considerably in the last few years.Among the major changes, Cynomops abrasus was split into two species of large-bodied forms (Cynomops mastivus and C. abrasus) distributed east of the Andes. However, large Colombian specimens identified as C. abrasus fromthewestern side of theAndes had yet to be included in any revisionary work. Phylogenetic analysis performed in this study, using mtDNA sequences (Cytochrome-b), revealed that these Colombian individuals are more closely related to Cynomops greenhalli. Morphological and molecular data allowed us to recognize populations from western Colombia, western Ecuador and northwestern Peru, as members of a new species of Cynomops. Characters that allow for its differentiation from C. greenhalli include a larger forearm, paler but more uniform ventral pelage, more globular braincase, andwell-developed zygomatic processes of the maxilla (almost reaching the postorbital constriction). This study serves as another example of the importance of including multiple lines of evidence in the recognition of a new species. Given its rarity and the advanced transformation of its habitat, this new species is particularly important from a conservation perspective.
Start page
273
End page
286
Volume
85
Issue
3
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Biología Otros temas de Biología Ciencia veterinaria
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85101613384
Source
Mammalia
ISSN of the container
00251461
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus