18 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



species have yet come to light. While it is quite possible that 

 it may eventually be found, it seems more likely that it is now 

 extinct, perhaps as a result in part of extensive clearing and 

 agriculture. As Anthony points out, the interesting thing 

 about this species is that it affords another instance of two 

 closely related species from the same region, differing most 

 obviously in little but size. A similar case is afforded by the 

 bats of the genus Chilonycteris, of which three species occur in 

 Cuba. 



JAMAICA LONG-TONGUED BAT 



REITHRONYCTERIS APHYLLA Miller 



Reithronycteris aphyUa Miller, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1898, p. 334 



("Jamaica"). 

 FIGS.: Miller, 1898, figs. 2b (head), 3 (skull), 4 (section of palate), 5a (tongue). 



The present species seems most closely related to Phyllonyc- 

 teris, which it may represent in Jamaica. Externally and in 

 its dentition it resembles Phyllonycteris poeyi but is at once 

 distinguished by the vestigial nose-leaf, which instead of 

 forming an erect lancet is reduced to almost nothing and ap- 

 pears as a short piglike snout, set off by an encircling groove. 

 The ears, too, are shorter, and the tragus shows four notches 

 on its outer margin; the hind foot is large, three-fourths as long 

 as the tibia, and with strong claws; calcar absent, as in Phyllo- 

 nycteris; and tail shorter than tibia. Color light yellowish 

 brown (in alcohol) . The genus differs remarkably from Phyllo- 

 nycteris, however, in that the floor of the brain case is elevated 

 out of its usual position in such a way that the roof of the 

 posterior nares is formed "by two longitudinal folds given off 

 probably by the pterygoids and nearly meeting in the median 

 line." The skull has the rostral portion relatively broader, 

 and there is less contrast in both diameter and height of the 

 upper incisors. Total length, 88 mm.; tail, 12; tibia, 17; 

 forearm, 48; skull length, 26. 



The only known specimen of this genus and species is the 

 type, a male preserved in the Museum of the Institute of 

 Jamaica. Its further history is not recorded, but it was taken 

 in that island some time prior to 1898; no fragments were found 

 by Dr. H. E. Anthony in the course of his explorations for 

 cave fossils in Jamaica, so that nothing is known of its haunts, 

 habits, or present status. Very likely, however, it is on the 

 way to extinction if it has not already gone. 



