Alvarez's mastiff bat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Molossus
Species:
M. alvarezi
Binomial name
Molossus alvarezi
González-Ruiz, Ramírez-Pulido and Arroyo-Cabrales, 2011
Alvarez's mastiff bat range

Molossus alvarezi, or Alvarez's mastiff bat, is a species of bat in the family Molossidae, native to the Yucatán Peninsula.[2] It lives within a relative homogenous environment within perennial forests, low forests, and a band of xeric vegetation.[2]

Taxonomy

Molossus alvarezi was described as a new species in 2011. The authors examined specimens of the Sinaloan mastiff bat (M. sinaloae) and found that individuals in the Yucatán Peninsula were morphologically distinct from other regions.[2] The genus name Molossus refers to the ancient Molossus breed of shepherd dog,[3] while the specific name alvarezi honors the late José Ticul Álvarez Solórzano for his significant contributions to the development of Mexican mammalogy.[2]

In a 2019 study that examined the genetics of some Molossus species, the authors found that M. alvarezi was the sister taxon of Molossus fentoni.[4]

Description

Molossus alvarezi is physically similar to Molossus sinaloae, though smaller in most dimensions. It is considered medium-sized for a bat of its genus, with a forearm length of 42.7–47.4 mm (1.68–1.87 in). The fur of its back is dark brown, while its underside is paler and grayish brown.[2]

Range and habitat

Molossus alvarezi is found in Mexico in the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán.[1] Its range also includes Honduras and French Guiana.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Solari, S. (2016). "Molossus alvarezi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T88087329A88087332. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T88087329A88087332.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 González-Ruiz, Noé; Ramírez-Pulido, José; Arroyo-Cabrales, Joaquín (July 2011). "A new species of mastiff bat (Chiroptera: Molossidae: Molossus) from Mexico". Mammalian Biology. 76 (4): 461–469. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2010.06.004.
  3. ↑ The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region by J. D. Skinner, ISBN 0-521-84418-5, 2006, p. 277, "The name of the [free-tailed bats] family is derived from the Greek molossus, a kind of dog used by Greek shepherds in ancient times."
  4. 1 2 Loureiro, Livia O.; Engstrom, Mark; Lim, Burton; González, Celia López; Juste, Javier (2019-10-05). "Not All Molossus are Created Equal: Genetic Variation in the Mastiff Bat Reveals Diversity Masked by Conservative Morphology". Acta Chiropterologica. 21 (1): 51. doi:10.3161/15081109ACC2019.21.1.004. ISSN 1508-1109.
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