Stenoderma rufum Desmarest 1820

212.

Red Fruit Bat

Stenoderma rufum

French: Sténoderme roux / German: Roter Fruchtvampir / Spanish: Stenodermo rojizo

Other common names: Red Fig-eating Bat

Taxonomy. Stenoderma rufa [sic] Desmarest, 1820,

type locality not given.

Type locality was probably the Virgin Islands because E. R. Hall andJ. R. Tamsitt in 1968 considered specimens from these islands indistinguishable from the holotype. A fossil subspecies (anthony) is known from Puerto Rico. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

S.r.rufumDesmarest,1820—USVirginIs(St.Thomas,St.John,andSt.Croix).

S. r. darior Hall & Tamsitt, 1968 — Puerto Rico; probably on Vieques I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 60-69 mm (tailless), ear 15-20 mm, hindfoot 12-15 mm, forearm 48-52 mm; weight 20-31 g. Males are smaller, on average, than females in every external and cranial measurement. Dorsal pelage of the Red Fruit Bat is brown or tan; ventral hairs are tipped with gray, giving venter a lighter color. Pelage varies from 8 mm long dorsally to 6 mm long ventrally. On the Virgin Islands, dorsum can have reddish tint. Very notable white markings below each ear and on shoulders makeit easy to differentiate the Red Fruit Bat from other sympatric fruit bats. Snout is wide and short, and noseleaf is well developed, simple, and lanceolated. Ears are naked and pale to dark brown. Wing membranes are black to dark brown. Uropatagium is narrow and sparsely haired, and tail is absent. Calcar is 3-5 mm. Dental formula is I 2 /2,C1/1,P 2/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 32. Molars do not have W-pattern, and M, are small. Braincase is domed, with distinct sagittal crest. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 30 and FN = 56. Sex determining system is XX/XYY,, and the two Y-chromosomes are acrocentric.

Habitat. Wide variety of habitats including xeric forests in the Virgin Islands and Vieques, mesic forests in Puerto Rico, and remnant forests in the San Juan metropolitan area, Puerto Rico.

Food and Feeding. The Red Fruit Bat is a frugivore, although, despite its other English common name (Red Fig-eating Bat), figs have not been documented as part ofits diet. It might be the main disperser of Manilkara bidentate (Sapotaceae). Other plants commonly feed on include Cecropia (Urticaceae), Prestoea (Arecaceae), and Piper (Piperaceae). It has been captured under and over the canopy.

Breeding. The Red Fruit Bat is polyestrous, with females often simultaneously lactating and pregnant. Pregnant females have been captured in January-August, lactating females in March—July, and males with descended testes in January-March andJune-August. Few data exist for September—-December,so it is uncertain if Red Fruit Bats reproduce during that part of the year. Young are born with dense grayish hair on dorsum and white patches. At birth, young are ¢.37% of mothers’ body weights.

Activity patterns. The Red Fruit Bat is nocturnal. It begins its activity after dark and is active throughout the night, retreating to a roostjust before sunrise. There is no evidence that it reducesits activity in response to bright moonlight. It roosts among leaves in forest canopies, regularly changing roost locations.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges have been documented extensively by radio-tracking. Average home range is 2-5 ha, although it increased fivefold after a hurricane. It is possible that the continuous change of roostsites is related to the proximity of food sources. Home ranges of different individuals overlap considerably, and there is no evidence ofterritoriality. Nevertheless, the Red Fruit Bat is a solitary species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Red Fruit Bat is considered common throughoutits restricted distribution and occurs in protected areas. Nevertheless,it is always found in low densities, and populations are highly sensitive to devastating effects of hurricanes. It was previously classified as Vulnerable, which might have to be reinstated depending on the effects of hurricane Maria in 2017.

Bibliography. Gannon & Willig (1994), Gannon et al. (2005), Genoways & Baker (1972), Hall & Tamsitt (1968), Jones, Genoways & Baker (1971), Kwiecinski & Coles (2007), Rodriguez-Duran (2016), Rodriguez-Duran & Christenson (2012), Rodriguez-Duran & Feliciano-Robles (2016), Simmons (2005).