Myotis velifer (J. A. Allen, 1890)

D, K D., M, M B., M, M L., P, B L., S, J M., E, J W. & A, L K., 2017, N R S S B 13 T C F V S S P, Occasional Papers of the Museum 351, pp. 1-12 : 6-7

Myotis velifer (J. A. Allen, 1890)

Cave Myotis

A year-round resident of Texas, the Cave Myotis has been documented in every ecoregion of the state with the exception of the South Central Plains (Ammerman et al. 2012). This species exhibits seasonal variation in its distribution and is thought to be restricted to the central and north-central parts of the state during the winter months (Ammerman et al. 2012). Although P. destructans was recently documented on M. velifer in Texas (K. Gilles, pers. comm; Meierhofer et al. in prep), no diagnostic signs of WNS were observed.

Childress County.—On 12 January 2017, three dead female M. velifer (ASNHC 18121, ASK 12678; ASNHC 18122, ASK 12679; ASNHC 18123, ASK 12680) were found during a survey of a gypsum cave system located 31.0 km northeast of Childress, Texas. These bats were located at the base of a substantial rock fall and had visual signs of physical trauma including abrasions and gashes. As a precautionary measure, the specimens were collected and tested for the presence of P. destructans . The initial on-site swab results for all three of these specimens were reported as negative for P. destructans . However, the specimens were swabbed again in a lab setting and one (ASNHC 18123) produced positive results. The specimen did not display diagnostic symptoms of WNS, was in good physical condition, and was documented at a weight of 15 g with fat deposits present. The presence of the fungus also was documented on two additional M. velifer in this cave system. Although not a county record ( Schmidly and Bradley 2016), these specimens represent the first voucher specimens of the Cave Myotis collected from a P. destructans positive site in Childress County. In total, 340 M. velifer were observed at this site.

Lampasas County.— An adult male specimen ( ASNHC 18124 , ASK 12681) was collected from a culvert (31.11936°N, 98.51707°W) 2.3 km north of Bend , Texas, on 23 November 2016. The bat was located in a swallow nest approximately 1.6 m from the portal and at a height of 1.4 m. Lampasas County was previously listed as a DSHS record (Ammerman et al. 2012). However, to our knowledge the only specimen representing this record was discarded. Therefore, this voucher specimen is considered as a county record. This individual tested negative for P. destructans .

Scurry County.—On 5 February 2017, a male M. velifer (ASNHC 12677, ASK 18120) was collected approximately 27.7 km northeast of Snyder, Texas. This bat was roosting in a gypsum cave system approximately 19.7 m from the cave entrance at a height of 1.4 m; a total of approximately 150 M. velifer were observed at this site. Although this record is within the previously known distribution of the species, Scurry County is located at the proposed contact zone of the northern and southern subspecies M. v. magnamolaris and M. v. incautus ( Dalquest and Stangl 1984; Parlos 2008; Ammerman et al. 2012). Without further investigation, it is not possible to determine which of the two subspecies ( M. v. magnamolaris or M. v. incautus ) was collected in Scurry County. Analysis of the collected swab reported this individual to be negative for P. destructans . However, two Townsend’s Big-eared Bats from this site tested positive for P. destructans . Therefore, this specimen represents a new county record and the first M. velifer to be collected from a site positive for P. destructans in Scurry County.

Stonewall County.—On 2 December 2016, an adult male M. velifer (ASNHC 12673, ASK 18116) was collected from a bridge (33.205273°N, 100.249774°W) located 8.2 km north of Aspermont, Texas, on Hwy 83. This specimen represents the first voucher specimen for Stonewall County and was the only Cave Myotis observed on this date. However, this location was surveyed on three additional occasions, 9 October 2016, 11 January 2017, and 5 February 2017, and species counts of 350, 1, and 5, respectively, were recorded. Therefore, this species might maintain an active presence in the county throughout the winter. Stonewall County was previously listed as a literature record ( Hayward 1970), however no voucher specimen was found. Thus, this voucher is considered as the official county record. This individual was not positive for P. destructans .