A new species of Anoura (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from the Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract

Here we describe a new species of Anoura from the Andes of Ecuador, distinguished from all other species of Anoura by its elongated tubelike lower lip and its much longer tongue. Based on size and other characteristics, Anoura n. sp. appears most similar to Anoura caudifer, but averages approximately 10% larger and has a wider uropatagium in the shape of an inverted V. Anoura n. sp. has been collected infrequently in cloud forests on the eastern and western slopes of the Andes throughout Ecuador, where it co-occurs with the more abundant A. geoffroyi and A. caudifer. Comparison with the diets of sympatric species of Anoura suggests that Anoura n. sp. visits flowers that have longer corollas, as might be expected given its much longer tongue. © 2005 American Society of Mammalogists.