LA SELVA-BRAULIO CARRILLO MAMMALS 



33 



Fig. 20. Parnell's mustached 

 bat, Pteronotus pamellii. 

 Photo by B. L. Clauson. 



Pteronotus pamellii 

 Parnell's Mustached Bat 



Parnell's mustached bats are found from Sonora, Mexico, to Brazil (Fig. 20). 

 This species is known from a broad range of habitats from sea level up to 3,000 m 

 (Smith 1972). Two subspecies are known from Costa Rica: Pteronotus pamellii 

 mesoamericanus from the Pacific side and P. p. rubiginosus from the Caribbean 

 versant. Large colonies roost in caves and in mines (Herd 1983). Insects, which 

 are the main food source, are captured on the wing. The reproductive pattern is 

 one of seasonal monestry (Wilson 1973b). 



Parnell's mustached bats are common throughout Costa Rica, and can be cap- 

 tured in mist nets set almost anywhere in the forest. They were netted regularly 

 over the years in the primary forest at La Selva, although never in large numbers, 

 and we found them to be common at lower elevations in Parque Nacional Braulio 

 Carrillo. LaVal and Fitch (1977) captured 25 at La Selva; pregnant females were 

 found from January through May. 



Ectoparasites collected from Pteronotus pamellii include the bat flies Nyctero- 

 philia parnelli (5 males, 1 female), Trichobius sparsus (10 males, 6 females), and 

 Trichobius yunkeri (15 males, 8 females). 



Specimens examined (20)— Finca La Selva, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 70 m 

 [1 female, KU; 1 male, 1 female, MSB]; 11 km S, 4.5 km W of Puerto Viejo, 

 270 m [3 females, USNM; 1 female, UNA]; 1 km S, 1 1.5 km E of San Miguel, 

 680 m [10 males, 1 female, USNM; 1 male, 1 female, UNA]. 



