New bat (Mammalia: Chiroptera) records from Nicaragua: First records of Pteronotus psilotis, Dermanura azteca and Uroderma davisi

James A. Hernández-Espinal; Erin P. Westeen; Luis A. Trujillo; Maynor A. Fernández-Mena; Luis E. Gutiérrez-López; Yanerling O. Artola; Madison E. A. Harman; Gabriel Somarriba; Tamara I. Pérez Rodríguez; Orlando  Jarquín-G; William O. Noble; Jennifer L. Zahratka; Jon E. Swenson; Carol L. Chambers; José Martínez-Fonseca

doi:10.12933/therya_notes-25-228

Authors

James A. Hernández-Espinal Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-Managua, Managua, Nicaragua. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5636-6800
Erin P. Westeen Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7685-4588
Luis A. Trujillo Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8364-6189
Maynor A. Fernández-Mena Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-Managua, Managua, Nicaragua. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8726-9158
Luis E. Gutiérrez-López Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-Managua, Managua, Nicaragua. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3777-4109
Yanerling O. Artola Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-Managua, Managua, Nicaragua. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8327-4627
Madison E. A. Harman Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1560-6024
Gabriel Somarriba Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9821-7384
Tamara I. Pérez Rodríguez Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-Estelí, Estelí, Nicaragua. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7039-0484
Orlando Jarquín-G Quetzalli Nicaragua S. A., Managua, Nicaragua.
William O. Noble USDA Forest Service (Retired), Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Jennifer L. Zahratka School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2397-0278
Jon E. Swenson Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5463-4282
Carol L. Chambers School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2524-4672
José Martínez-Fonseca School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12933/therya_notes-25-228

Keywords:

Central America, Centronycteris, Davis's tent-making bat, Dermanura, Honduran fruit-eating bat, range extension, Aztec fruit-eating bat

Abstract

Understanding species distributions is key for conservation and management, as well as necessary to examine their ecological associations. In recent decades, the increasing survey efforts across Nicaragua have expanded the known ranges of many Mesoamerican bat species. Here we aim to fill gaps in known distribution of bat species across their distribution in Nicaragua and Central America. We used single and triple high nets to capture bats in different vegetation formations across Nicaragua. We measured and identified each individual bat and compared their location to previously known localities available in international repositories. We provide the first record of Pteronotus psilotis (Dobson 1878), Dermanura azteca K. Andersen 1909, and Uroderma davisi R. J. Baker and McDaniel 1972. We also provide new records of Centronycteris centralis Thomas 1912, and Artibeus inopinatus Davis and Carter 1964. Our findings fill important gaps in the known distribution of the species. With our current additions, this elevates the number of bat species recorded in Nicaragua to 116. We recommend more capture and acoustic sampling efforts, specifically in areas near the north and southern borders of the country that have been historically underrepresented in surveys.