410.

Barbados Myotis

Myotis nyctor

French: Murin de la Barbade / German: Barbados-Mausohr / Spanish: Ratonero de Barbados

Other common names: Silky Cave Myotis

Taxonomy. Myotis martiniquensis nyctor L.aVal & Schwartz, 1974,

“Cole’s Cave, St. Thomas Parish, Barbados.”

Subgenus Pizonyx; albescens species group. See M. martiniquensis . Monotypic.

Distribution. Barbados and Grenada, [esser Antilles.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.45 47 mm, tail 35-37 mm, ear 13-14 mm, hindfoot 6-7 mm, forearm 32:6-36- 6 mm; weight ¢. 5 g. Fur is silky and medium in length (dorsal fur 4-6 mm; ventral fur 3-4 mm). Ventral hairs are strongly bicolored, with dark brown bases and yellowish tips. Dark brown bases and medium brown tips of dorsal fur contrast weakly. Ears are comparatively short, extending forward halfway from eye to nostril. Antitragal notch is barely evident. Membranes are mummy brown; plagiopatagium is attached to foot toes by a broad band of membrane. Skull is mediums-sized (greatest length of skull 13-4-14- 9 mm); occipital region is rounded;sagittal crest is generally absent, or when present,it is low; and lambdoidal crests are generally present and range from low to medium. P? is aligned in tooth row and visible in labial view. Wing morphology is typical of aerial insectivore that uses cluttered spaces.

Habitat. Well-preserved forests, with large trees, caves, gullies, and rocky outcrops; escarpment covered in a mahogany forest; riparian areas with little water flow but numerous freshwater pools along riverbed; dense Acacia (Fabaceae) shrubland; and anthropogenic habitats at elevations of 50-300 m.

Food and Feeding. The Barbados Myotis is forages among trees and over water. Individuals were captured over small freshwater pools as they came to drink and forage on small insects.

Breeding. In Barbados, reproductive female Barbados Myotis (pregnant or lactating) were captured in April, June-July, and September—October; reproductive activity might be higher in dry seasons.

Activity patterns. The Barbados Myotis starts its activities at least one hour before sunset and forages all night. Its roosts mainly in caves and other subterranean habitats, but it will roost in human structures (e.g. attics, roofs of houses, culverts, and under bridges).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Barbados Myotis occupies only ¢. 1000 km ®). Main threats include hurricanes and severe weather and forest declines from expanding of tourism.

Bibliography. Genoways et al. (2011), Larsen (2016c¢), Larsen, Larsen et al. (2012), LaVal & Schwartz (1974), Moratelli et al. (2017), Rodriguez-Duran & Kunz (2001), Timm & Genoways (2003).