Sturnira honurensis is a species of bat found in Central America. Previously, it was considered a subspecies of the highland yellow-shouldered bat, but it has been considered distinct since 2010.

Sturnira hondurensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Phyllostomidae
Genus: Sturnira
Species:
S. hondurensis
Binomial name
Sturnira hondurensis
Goodwin, 1940
Synonyms
  • Sturnira ludovici hondurensis Goodwin, 1940

Taxonomy and etymology edit

It was described as a new species in 1940 by George G. Goodwin.[2] Since its discovery, it has sometimes been considered a subspecies of the highland yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira ludovici. However, a 2010 study showed that while it is closely related to the highland yellow-shouldered bat, it is distinct enough to be considered its own species.[3] Its species name "hondurensis" is Latin for "belonging to Honduras." Goodwin likely chose hondurensis because the holotype for the species was collected near San José, Honduras.[2]

Description edit

Its tragi are long and sickle-shaped.[2]

Biology and ecology edit

It is nocturnal, foraging for food at night and sleeping during the day. In the day, it roosts in sheltered places such as trees. Tree species used for roosting include the American sweetgum, Quercus sartorii, Jamaican nettletree, and the elephant-ear tree. It is frugivorous. It mostly feeds on fruits from the family Solanaceae.[4]

Conservation edit

It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Solari, S. (2017). "Sturnira hondurensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T88154577A88154581. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T88154577A88154581.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Goodwin, G. G. (1940). "Three new bats from Honduras and the first record of Enchisthenes harti (Thomas) for North America" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (1075).
  3. ^ Velazco, Paúl M; Patterson, Bruce D (2013). "Diversification of the Yellow-shouldered bats, Genus Sturnira (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), in the New World tropics". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 68 (3): 683–98. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.04.016. PMID 23632030.
  4. ^ Cortés-Delgado, Natalia; Sosa, Vinicio J (2014). "Do Bats Roost and Forage in Shade Coffee Plantations? A Perspective from the Frugivorous Bat Sturnira hondurensis". Biotropica. 46 (5): 624. doi:10.1111/btp.12142.