Tadarida brasiliensis antillularum (Miller, 1902)

G, H H., P, S C., P, C J. & G, L K., 2007, B A, N L A, Occasional Papers of the Museum 270, pp. 1-12 : 8

Tadarida brasiliensis antillularum

(Miller 1902)

Specimens examined (2).—Chalvilles, 1 (UNSM);

The Valley, 1 (UNSM).

These specimens represent the first record of the Brazilian free-tailed bat from the island of Anguilla. This species is known from other islands in the northern Lesser Antilles such as St. Martin, St. Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, and Saba (G. M. Allen 1911; Husson 1960; Koopman 1968; Genoways et al. 2007a, 2007b; Larsen et al. 2007), but was previously unknown from Anguilla. To the west, the species is recorded from the island of St. John in the American Virgin Islands ( Koopman 1975). Shamel (1931) in his revision of the genus Tadarida considered antillularum as a distinct species; however, Schwartz (1955) considered antillularum as a subspecies of the widely distributed T. brasiliensis , which is the currently accepted taxonomic arrangement. Owen et al. (1990) presented evidence of a close relationship between T. b. cynocephala from the southeastern United States and Antillean populations of T. brasiliensis . Further data are needed to fully explore the taxonomic and biogeographic implications if such a relationship exists.

Our female specimen from The Valley along with a single individual of M. molossu s was taken in a mist net set under a canopy formed by large mahogany trees. The male from Chalvilles was taken under conditions described in the account for A. jamaicensis . The female captured on May 20 was not pregnant.