70 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 75 



Dermanura hartii 

 Little Fruit-eating Bat 



Little fruit-eating bats are known from Jalisco and Tamaulipas, Mexico, to 

 Bolivia (Fig. 53). Dermanura hartii is a monotypic species exhibiting little geo- 

 graphic variation throughout its extensive range. The generic placement, however, 

 has been the subject of much debate. This species has been considered to be the 

 sole member of the genus Enchisthenes, a member of the overly inclusive genus 

 Artibeus, and most recently a member of the genus Dermanura (Owen 1987). 



This species occurs primarily in highlands, although there are scattered records 

 from the lowlands. It occurs in a variety of types of forests ranging from dry to 

 quite humid (Handley 1976). Roosting sites have not been reported. Gardner (1977) 

 summarized the feeding habits and suggested figs were an important component 

 of the diet. The few data available on reproduction suggest a bimodal pattern (Wilson 

 1979). 



Armstrong (1969) reported the first record for Costa Rica from Finca Las 

 Cruces in Puntarenas Province. Gardner et al. (1970) listed 19 additional specimens 

 from the country, including the first from Heredia Province. 



Specimens examined (5)— Vara Blanca, 1,900 m [1 male, 4 females, LSUMZ]. 



Dermanura phaeotis 

 Pygmy Fruit-eating Bat 



Pygmy fruit-eating bats are found from Sinaloa and Veracruz, Mexico, south 

 throughout Central America and much of northern South America to Peru (Fig. 54). 

 Two subspecies are known from Costa Rica, the nominate form from the Carib- 

 bean versant, and Dermanura phaeotis palatina from northwestern Costa Rica. 

 This is an abundant species in Costa Rica and at La Selva, although probably not 

 as abundant there and in many other areas as is D. watsoni. These two species 

 are similar in appearance and are often misidentified, both in the field and in museum 

 collections. 



Pygmy fruit-eating bats are found in lowland forested areas, both wet and dry 

 (Timm 1985). They modify both banana and Heliconia leaves to form tents for 

 roosting sites (Timm 1987). Primarily frugivorous, they occasionally take pollen 

 as well, and have been reported to feed on 11 different species of plants in Costa 

 Rica (Heithaus et al. 1975). The reproductive pattern is one of bimodal polyestry 

 (Timm 1985). 



Although Dermanura phaeotis are common in Costa Rica, specimens have 

 been confused under a variety of names in the past. LaVal and Fitch (1977) reported 

 that this was one of the most common species of bats they captured at La Selva. 

 We caught only two individuals in Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. 



Specimens examined (9)— Finca La Selva, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 70 m 

 [2 males, 2 females, KU; 2 males, 1 female, MSB]; 11 kmS, 4.5 km W of Puerto 

 Viejo, 270 m [1 male, UNA]; 1 km S, 11.5 km E of San Miguel, 680 m [1 male, 

 USNM]. 



