MORPHOMETRIC DIFFERENTIATION AND SPECIES STATUS OF THE ALLOPATRIC FRUIT-EATING BATS ARTIBEUS-JAMAICENSIS AND A-PLANIROSTRIS IN VENEZUELA

Authors
LIM BK
Citation
Bk. Lim, MORPHOMETRIC DIFFERENTIATION AND SPECIES STATUS OF THE ALLOPATRIC FRUIT-EATING BATS ARTIBEUS-JAMAICENSIS AND A-PLANIROSTRIS IN VENEZUELA, Studies on neotropical fauna and environment, 32(2), 1997, pp. 65-71
Citations number
20
Journal title
Studies on neotropical fauna and environment → ACNP
ISSN journal
01650521
Volume
32
Issue
2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
65 - 71
Database
ISI
SICI code
0165-0521(1997)32:2<65:MDASSO>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
Two competing taxonomic hypotheses have been proposed for the bats Art ibeus jamaicensis and A. planirostris; one species with two intergradi ng populations or two allopatric sibling species. Morphometric analyse s on specimens from the legion of potential contact in Venezuela confi rmed the two species hypothesis. The Orinoco River in combination with the adjacent savanna and rain forest may have acted as a geographical and ecological barrier. In Venezuela, 57 species of bats occur only o n one side of the Orinoco River.