Sexual dimorphism in the endangered Florida bonneted bat, Eumops floridanus (Chiroptera: Molossidae)

• Published in: Florida scientist Vol. 80; no. 1; pp. 38 - 48
• Main Authors: Ober, Holly K., de Torrez, Elizabeth C. Braun, McCleery, Robert A., Bailey, Amanda M., Gore, Jeffery A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Orlando The Florida Academy of Sciences, Inc 01.01.2017; Florida Academy of Sciences, Inc
• Subjects: Chiroptera; Endangered species; Eumops; Habitat utilization; Molossidae
• ISSN: 0098-4590

Interest in the Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus) has risen dramatically since the species was listed as federally endangered in 2013. However, understanding of many aspects of the species' biology is limited, due in part to the fairly recent recognition of E. floridanus as a distinct species rather than a subspecies of E. glaucinus. Through a two-year mark-recapture study of E. floridanus roosting in a group of bat houses, we obtained morphological measurements on >200 individuals. We documented modest male-biased sexual size dimorphism (forearm length, wing width, and wing length were larger in adult males than adult females) and found gular glands exclusively among males. If these morphological differences lead to niche partitioning between sexes, conservation planning may need to consider the foraging habitat use of males and females independently. Relative to other species in the genus Eumops, E. floridanus had a moderate aspect ratio index, low wing shape index, and low wing tip index, suggesting the species may not be capable of flying at speeds as fast as other closely related species, but may be more maneuverable and more efficient when flying in cluttered space.