We analyzed the phylogenetic relationships of all eleven currently recognized species of large Artibeus using the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene. The topology from a maximum parsimony analysis included: (1) A. obscurus and A. planirostris as sister species with successively basal lineages of (2) A. amplus, (3) a clade with A. lituratus and A. intermedius, (4) A. jamaicensis, (5) a clade of A. inopinatus sister to A. hirsutus and A. fraterculus, (6) A. fimbriatus, and (7) the most basal lineage of A. concolor. The individual species were monophyletic and well supported by bootstrap and decay values. The monophyletic clade of ((((obscurus planirostris) amplus) (lituratus intermedius)) jamaicensis) was also highly supported, although some of the interspecific relationships were less so. Contrary to previous hypotheses of species limits based on a presumed intergradation in body size, A. jamaicensis and A. planirostris do not form a monophyletic group, refuting their conspecificity and supporting an earlier study concluding that these two taxa represent separate morphological populations. An analysis with A. jamaicensis and A. planirostris constrained as sister-taxa resulted in a tree 8 steps longer. In addition, the low genetic pair-wise difference between A. lituratus and A. intermedius (2.8% with Kimura-2 parameters) warrants closer examination of their species limits.

The African molossid Chaerephon pumilus shows extensive variation in colour, size and echolocation across its wide distributional range with a light-winged form in north-eastern Africa and a dark form in southern Africa. There is also much variation in supposedly diagnostic characters (e.g., degree of palatial emargination) amongst the dark form of this species in southern Africa. These differences suggest that there may be cryptic species within C. pumilus. We used phylogenetic and phenetic analyses of sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene of a number of C. pumilus individuals to investigate the status of the light and dark-winged forms of this species and to evaluate the possibility of cryptic species within the dark-winged form of C. pumilus in southern Africa. We evaluated species status by comparing the level of sequence divergence amongst C. pumilus with the level of sequence divergence between known species in the genus. These included C. ansorgei, C. chapini, C. nigeriae and C. jobensis. Intrageneric sequence divergences among the Chaerephon spp. included here ranged from 6.51 to 11.18%, whereas the average sequence divergence between the light and dark forms was 0.9%. This suggests that these two forms are not distinct species. Individuals of the dark form of C. pumilus were genetically indistinguishable from each other having the same cytochrome b haplotype. We thus found no evidence of cryptic species in southern African C. pumilus.

Rhinolophus stheno, R. acuminatus and R. macrotis are recorded from Myanmar for the first time based on authenticated voucher material. New data from recent surveys (2000–2003) are included for R. affinis, R. malayanus, R. lepidus, R. marshalli, R. pusillus, R. pearsoni, and R. thomasi. Additional records of R. rouxi and R. sinicus are listed on the basis of museum specimens. The status of R. subbadius, R. yunanensis, R. luctus, R. trifoliatus, R. coelophyllus, and R. shameli are reviewed. This brings the total number of Rhinolophus species known from Myanmar to eighteen and the number of all bat species to ninety-four. The possible reasons for the rich diversity of Rhinolophids are discussed.

In a survey of bats from La Rioja (Spain), several specimens of the mystacinus group were captured at different mountain localities. Genetic and morphologic analyses have revealed the presence of two lineages within this group in La Rioja. The lineages have been identified as corresponding to two different species: Myotis mystacinus sensu stricto and the recently described M. alcathoe. Both species were found using the same nocturnal refugia (caves) and the same forest habitats. This study extends the distribution of M. alcathoe west and southwards and adds a new mammal species to the Iberian fauna.

Adaptations to a plant-based diet have evolved in bats on two occasions — once in the Old World family Pteropodidae and again within the New World family Phyllostomidae. Although the skulls of all plant-visiting bats exhibit adaptations for relatively large eyes, enlarged brains, and reduced molar complexity, the skulls of bats from the two families look very different. The goals of this study are to pinpoint the fundamental differences in the cranial shape between pteropodids and plant-visiting phyllostomids and to investigate patterns of diversity in cranial shape within each lineage. Analyses are based on 19 size adjusted, linear variables collected from 335 specimens that represent 71% of pteropodid and 45% of plant-visiting phyllostomid genera. Results of a stepwise discriminant function analysis indicate that differences in cranial shape between pteropodids and plant-visiting phyllostomids involve general aspects of relative braincase width, palate width and coronoid process height. Pteropodids have relatively narrow skulls and palates, and dentaries with tall coronoid processes, while the opposite is true of phyllostomids. Principal components analysis and an investigation of coefficients of variation reveal a high level of variation among the skulls of plant-visiting phyllostomids while cranial architecture among pteropodids is more conservative. This study documents patterns of morphological diversity in the skulls of plant-visiting bats. Several potential ecological and biomechanical mechanisms underlying these patterns are discussed.

Echolocation calls of 119 bats belonging to 12 species in three families from Antillean islands of Puerto Rico, Dominica, and St. Vincent were recorded by using time-expansion methods. Spectrograms of calls and descriptive statistics of five temporal and frequency variables measured from calls are presented. The echolocation calls of many of these species, particularly those in the family Phyllostomidae, have not been described previously. The wing morphology of each taxon is described and related to the structure of its echolocation calls and its foraging ecology. Of slow aerial-hawking insectivores, the Mormoopidae and Natalidae Mormoops blainvillii, Pteronotus davyi davyi, P. quadridens fuliginosus, and Natalus stramineus stramineus can forage with great manoeuvrability in background-cluttered space (close to vegetation), and are able to hover. Pteronotus parnellii portoricensis is able to fly and echolocate in highly-cluttered space (dense vegetation). Among frugivores, nectarivores and omnivores in the family Phyllostomidae, Brachyphylla cavernarum intermedia is adapted to foraging in the edges of vegetation in background-cluttered space, while Erophylla bombifrons bombifrons, Glossophaga longirostris rostrata, Artibeus jamaicensis jamaicensis, A. jamaicensis schwartzi and Stenoderma rufum darioi are adapted to foraging under canopies in highly-cluttered space and do not have speed or efficiency in commuting flight. In contrast, Monophyllus plethodon luciae, Sturnira lilium angeli and S. lilium paulsoni are adapted to fly in highly-cluttered space, but can also fly fast and efficiently in open areas.

The purpose of this study was to compare the echolocation calls of the same four individual Myotis lucifugus and Myotis leibii flying inside a closed room and when released outside. Echolocation calls were recorded using a Pettersson D980 bat detector, the high frequency output fed into a personal computer via an F2000 Control Filter and an Ines High speed card. Recorded as .wav files, recordings were analyzed with BatSoundPro. We measured call duration (DUR in ms), frequency with maximum energy (FMAX in kHz), highest frequency (HF in kHz), lowest frequency (LF in kHz), and inter-pulse interval (IPI in ms). Multivariate Analyses of Variance (MANOVA) indicated significant differences in call features between species, between settings, between species in each setting, and finally between settings for each individual. Discriminant Function Analyses (DFA) revealed that inside DUR was the most important parameter distinguishing M. lucifugus from M. leibii, with 66.3% correct classification, while outside, the two species were distinguished 78.8% of the time by LF. The data demonstrate that the same individuals flying in confined spaces change the details of their echolocation calls compared to when flying in the open. Calls produced inside are shorter in DUR and are produced at shorter IPIs than calls produced outside. FMAX differed most between the calls of M. lucifugus and M. leibii whether flying inside or outside. Differences between echolocation calls were more pronounced between setting (inside versus outside) than between species.

Autumnal foraging behaviour and habitat use by Tadarida teniotis were studied in Southern Portugal, using seventeen radio-marked individuals, followed over multiple nights from fixed and mobile stations. Tadarida teniotis proved to be a late emerger, leaving the roost about one hour after sunset and, in contrast to most insectivorous bat species, only had one foraging bout. These bouts were very long, lasting an average of 6 hours and 39 minutes. Bout duration was unrelated to climatic conditions and so probably determined by foraging success. In the early evening almost all bats were foraging, but this activity declined steadily through the night. They kept flying even during fairly cold nights, but did not leave the roost on the coldest nights, in which they probably remained in torpor. As predicted by its body mass and wing morphology, T. teniotis was found to be a strong flyer, reaching speeds of over 50 km/h, and flying for up to 10 hours without resting periods. The observed speeds were 2.5 times higher than the predicted maximum range speed, which may be possible due to peculiar adaptations to high-speed flight. On most nights bats flew straight to a previously identified feeding site, but on a few they made slower indirect flights, suggesting a search for profitable foraging areas. Upon arriving to a feeding site most bats remained there for the rest of the foraging trip. The median size of these sites was just over 100 ha. Several tracked bats used the same feeding area simultaneously. The range of the colony had a radius of over 30 km, but most feeding sites were concentrated in a mountainous region located about 5 km north of the roost. The studied bats foraged preferentially over forested areas, particularly pine and cork oak woodlands. They used both alluvial plains and the valleys of a mountainous area, but not its ridges. Our observations support the hypothesis that T. teniotis is an opportunistic forager, depending on temporary concentrations of prey, such as insect swarms.

The role of frugivorous bats as seed dispersers in humid neotropical tropical forests was evaluated between January and August 1995. Thirty germination trials were set up using seeds defecated by six bat species. Seeds of Piper multiplinervium and Ficus insipida, defecated by Carollia brevicauda and Artibeus jamaicensis, respectively, showed significantly higher germination percentages than seeds not ingested by bats. Of seven seed species regurgitated by bats, only Markea neurantha showed significant increases in percent germination compared to seeds not ingested by bats. Of 19 tents and three active feeding roosts found, 12 tents and three feeding roosts were in primary forest, while six tents were in abandoned plantations. For tent construction, four bat species used six plant species. Fifty-two percent of seeds found under tents and feeding roosts were from secondary forest species. Twenty-two percent of seed species in fecal samples from netted bats in three secondary forest types were primary forest species. Bats in our study dispersed seeds between different habitat types.

The selection of optimal hibernation temperature (T_H) was possible by bats changing both the distance at which they roosted from the mine entrance (D) (T_H versus D; r_s= 0.73, n = 615, P < 0.001), and the height of hibernation place (H) (T_H vs. H; r_s= 0.16, n = 412, P < 0.01). Bats were able to select areas of high relative humidity (RH) by roosting in low temperature (RH vs. T_H; r_s= -0.26, n = 366, P < 0.001) and/or by selecting hibernation places situated lower on the mine walls (RH vs. H; r_s= -0.61, n = 280, P < 0.001). Sub-adult bats (identified by presence of the black chin spot) were found to hibernate at significantly lower temperatures (Z = -3.1, n₁ = 164, n₂ = 41, P < 0.01) and in places situated lower on the mine walls (Z = -2.2, n₁ = 164, n₂, = 41, P < 0.05) than adult individuals. In March sub-adults hibernated closer to the entrance than adult individuals (χ² = 8.18, d.f. = 1, P < 0.01). The difference in average body condition index between sub-adult and adult bats recorded in March (one-way ANOVA, F = 6.56, error d.f. = 51, P < 0.05) made individuals in their first year of life more prone to starvation at the end of hibernation period. In this month the significantly smaller distance of hibernation place of sub-adult individuals from the mine entrance (Z = -2.7, n₁ = 58, n₂, = 19, P < 0.01), resulted in significantly lower hibernation temperature, making them more endangered by predation of mammalian and avian species than adult bats hibernating deeper in the mine. The linear (r = 0.87, d.f. = 30, P < 0.001) relationship between body mass at the beginning and end of hibernation (November and March) of uniquely marked individuals indicates these bats did not forage in winter and their energy use was exclusively dependent on fat reserves accumulated prior to hibernation. The significant relationship between body mass in November and total mass loss (r = 0.59, d.f. = 30, P < 0.001) could indicate the possibility of existence of another factor, or group of factors, that could increase the energy use in hibernating M. daubentonii. These may include mating and/or energy costly defence against predators.

We used the Jolly-Seber method to analyze mark-recapture data and estimate both survival and population size in the Indian false vampire bat Megaderma lyra in Madurai (South India). Population size of bats from 2001 to 2003 varied from 379 to 476, and showed fluctuation in numbers for both sexes. The mean (plusmn;SE) survival rate of females (1.26 ± 0.33) exceeded that of males (1.02 ± 0.16) although the differences were not statistically significant. We observed a gradual decline in reproduction as indicated by the number of pups born in each year. This was consistent with a declining trend in population size from 1995 to 2003. We hypothesize a few reasons for this fall in population size, including habitat destruction and human poaching of bats.

Empirical growth curves were derived by measuring length of forearms, body mass and length of the total gap of the fourth metacarpal-phalangeal joint in a free ranging population of the Mehely's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) in a maternity roost in western Iran. Length of forearm and body mass followed a linear pattern of growth until day 14 and subsequently decreased to reach a stable level. The length of the gap of the metacarpal-phalangeal joint showed an increase up to 10 days and decreased until it had closed at over 55 days. Initiation of flight occurred approximately four weeks after birth. During the first two weeks of postnatal growth, the body mass and the length of forearm of pups increased linearly at mean rates of 0.58 g/day and 1.55 mm/day, respectively. A method of estimation of age was derived from values of forearm length and the total gap of the four metacarpal-phalangeal joint during the preflight and post flight periods.

Fear of bats as vectors of rabies is pervasive as a primary cause of their needless destruction, especially in the United States. Nevertheless, transmission from bats to humans is so rare that only 27 of 50 states have reported a single case since record keeping began in the 1940s, and fewer than 0.78 persons/year have been infected. We here analyze human rabies exposure records from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to document relative risks in one representative state. Rabies exposure from bats to humans was no more frequent than from dogs and significantly less than from cats. Yet, of these three, only bats are listed as high-risk vectors. Furthermore, we found that 85.4% of rabies diagnosed from bats was confined to just one of the state's 11 species. These findings suggest that disproportionate emphasis on bats, combined with lumping all bat species into a single risk category, is counterproductive to public health interests, in addition to needlessly prejudicing the public against these highly beneficial, but declining animals.