LA SELVA-BRAULIO CARRILLO MAMMALS 



49 



Tonatia bidens 

 Spix's Round-eared Bat 



Spix's round-eared bats are found from eastern Guatemala to Paraguay 

 (Fig. 34). The recent taxon is monotypic, although there is a fossil subspecies known 

 from Jamaica (Koopman 1976). 



This is basically a species of primary forest, but there are records from 

 agricultural areas (Handley 1976). The only known roosts are in hollow trees 

 (Goodwin and Greenhall 1961). Fruit and insects have been reported as food items 

 (Gardner 1977). The reproductive pattern is likely one of bimodal polyestry (WUson 

 1979). 



Goodwin (1946) reported the species from Palmar, and Gardner et al. (1970) 

 added a specimen from Quepos, both in the Pacific lowlands. LaVal (1977) cap- 

 tured 15 from La Selva. Our specimens from Braulio Carrillo were mist-netted 

 over streams and trails in primary forest. 



Bat flies collected from Tonatia bidens at La Selva include Strebla galindoi 

 (4 males, 2 females) and an undescribed species of Trichobius (7 males, 12 females). 



Specimens examined (8)— Finca La Selva, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 70 m 

 [1 male, KU; 2 males, MSB]; 11 km S, 4.5 km W of Puerto Viejo, 270 m [2 males, 

 2 females, USNM; 1 female, UNA]. 



Fig. 34. Spix's round- 

 eared bat, Tonatia 

 bidens. Photo by 

 B. L. Clausen. 



