AMERICAN BATS — ^HANDLE Y 



107 



The bats of the genera Euderma and Plecotus form a close-knit unit, 

 morphologically and, apparently, phyletically. Euderma and Plecotus 

 appear to be more closely related to one another than either is to any 

 other vespertilionid genus, yet the differences separating them are 

 clearly of generic grade (table 1) . 



The nearest relative of Euderma and Plecotus appears to be Barba- 

 stella (p. 118). Also closely related are Myotis and Pipistrellus 

 and their closest allies. Similarities most strikine; are the lack of 



BARBASTELLA BARBA3TEUU3 USNM 142583 SWITZERLAND 



EUDERMA MACULATUM MCZ 42130 ARIZONA 



PLECOTUS (IDIONYCTERISl PHYLLOTIS AMNH 62260 TAMAULIPA8 



PLECOTUS ( PLECOTUS ) AURITUS MCZ 36987 GERMANY 



PLECOTUS (CORYNORHINUS) TOWNSENDII MCZ 40876 WASHINGTON 



Figure 4. — Skulls of Barhasiella, Euderma, and Plecotus {Barbastella about 4 times natural 

 size, others about 3 times natural size). Traced from photographs. 



