LA SELVA-BRAULIO CARRILLO MAMMALS 



69 



Dermanura azteca 

 Highland Fruit-eating Bat 



Highland fruit-eating bats are known from Sinaloa, Mexico, to western Panama 

 (Fig. 52). The Costa Rican subspecies is Dermanura azteca major, which is essen- 

 tially restricted to Costa Rica and northern Panama. We follow Owen (1987) in 

 recognizing Dermanura as a genus distinct from Artibeus. 



This species is limited to habitats above 1,000 m. Known roosting sites are 

 caves and tunnels (Davis et al. 1964), although it seems likely that this bat also 

 will prove to be a tent-constructor as have all the other previously studied small 

 Dermanura (Timm 1987). Food habits are unknown, but the bat is presumed to 

 be frugivorous. Reproductive data are too few to allow speculation on the annual 

 pattern (Wilson 1979). Biology of this species was summarized by Webster and 

 Jones (1982a). 



This species had not been recorded previously from the northeastern Carib- 

 bean slope of Costa Rica, although it is known from the Talamancas and the 

 Monte verde area (Wilson 1983a). Our specimen from near Vara Blanca was taken 

 from a pasture near a small stream. 



Specimens examined (9)— 5 km E of Vara Blanca, 2,050 m [1 male, USNM]; 

 1 mi W of Vara Blanca [2 males, 6 females, TTU]. 



Additional records (4)-Vara Blanca [2 females, TCWC; 2, LSUMZ]. 



Fig. 52. Highland fruit-eating bat, Dermanura azteca. Photo by R. K. LaVal. 



