72 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 75 



Dermanura tolteca 

 Lowland Fruit-eating Bat 



Lowland fruit-eating bats are found from Sinaloa, Mexico, to Panama (Fig. 55). 

 Only the nominate subspecies, Dermanura tolteca tolteca, occurs in Costa Rica. 



The common name is something of a misnomer, as these bats are more fre- 

 quently caught at middle elevations than in the lowlands. A variety of forested 

 habitats are inhabited, including dry forest. Known roosts include caves, tunnels, 

 buildings, and foliage (Tutde 1976). Dinerstein (1986) listed the fruit of 17 species 

 of plants in the diet of this species at Monteverde, Costa Rica. Births are spread 

 through much of the year in Mexico, and the usual bimodal polyestrous pattern 

 was confirmed by Dinerstein (1986). Biology of this bat was summarized by Webster 

 and Jones (1982b). 



This species is abundant at Monteverde (LaVal and Fitch 1977), and is known 

 from several other localities in Costa Rica (Wilson 1983a). Our specimens from 

 Braulio Carrillo, taken in primary forest, represent the first records for the north- 

 eastern Caribbean slope. Two of the three females were pregnant. 



Specimens examined (3)— 1 km S, 1 1.5 km E of San Miguef 680 m [2 females, 

 USNM; 1 female, UNA]. 



Additional records— Vara Blanca [LSUMZ; Gardner et al. 1970]. 



Dermanura watsoni 

 Thomas' Fruit-eating Bat 



Thomas' fruit-eating bats are found from Oaxaca and Veracruz, Mexico, 

 through Central America to Colombia (Fig. 56). The species is monotypic. Derma- 

 nura watsoni has been considered at times to be a subspecies of D. cinerea. 



Although common in a variety of habitats, this species normally is restricted 

 to forested areas. It seems to be absent from the drier parts of Costa Rica and of 

 Central America in general. This is another species of tent-making bat, modifying 

 large leaves to provide roosting sites (Timm 1987). They are primarily frugivorous 

 (Gardner 1977). The reproductive pattern is bimodal polyestry (Fleming et al. 

 1972). 



These bats are found throughout most of Costa Rica, but apparently do not 

 occur in the Guanacaste lowlands. We collected two from Parque Nacional Braulio 

 Carrillo, both from riparian situations near undisturbed forest. 



One species of spinturnicid bat mite, Periglischrus iheringi, was collected on 

 D. watsoni. 



Specimens examined (47)— 2.5 km SE of Puerto Viejo [3 males, CM; 1 male, 

 TCWC]; Finca La Selva, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 70 m [1 male, FMNH; 5 males, 

 2 females, LACM; 8 males, 4 females, MSB]; Puerto Viejo, Rio Sarapiqui, 300 ft 

 [2 males, 4 females, KU; 1 male, 4 females, UMMZ]; 7.3 mi SE of Puerto Viejo 

 [7 males, TTU]; 11 km S, 4.5 km W of Puerto Viejo, 270 m [1 female, USNM]; 

 Rio Puerto Viejo [1 male, 1 female, KU]; 1 km S, 11.5 km E of San Miguel, 

 680 m [1 male, USNM; 1 male, UNA]. 



