First record of Chiroderma improvisum Baker & Genoways, 1976 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Saint Kitts, Lesser Antilles

Abstract

Chiroderma improvisum is a rare bat previously known only on the Caribbean Islands of Guadeloupe and Montserrat. We report the first recorded capture of C. improvisum on the island of Saint Kitts, 80 km northwest of Montserrat. Cytochrome b (cytB) gene analysis of the single captured specimen confirmed the identity of the bat as C. improvisum; however, there is enough difference to indicate some population divergence, and possibly differentiation at the subspecific level among islands. We also report the first records of an ectoparasite, Periglischrus iheringi (Acarina: Spinturnicidae), from this bat.