Leptonycteris curasoae

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CHIROPTERA	PHYLLOSTOMIDAE

Scientific Name:

Leptonycteris curasoae

Species Authority:

Miller, 1900

Common Name/s:

English

–

Curaçaoan Long-nosed Bat, Southern Long-nosed Bat

Taxonomic Notes:

Does not include yerbabuenae (= sanborni).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2c ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Soriano, P. & Molinari, J.

Reviewer/s:

Medellín, R. (Chiroptera Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because of a population decline, estimated to be >30% over the last three generations, inferred from exploitation of maternity caves, and habitat destruction and degradation. Reproduces in a very limited number of caves and is vulnerable to vandalism. Lives in a very limited habitat type which is disappearing rapidly.

History:

2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Insufficiently Known (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in dry areas in northeast Colombia, north Venezuela, Margarita Island, Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba (Netherlands Antilles) (Simmons, 2005).
Countries:	Native: Aruba; Colombia; Netherlands Antilles; Venezuela
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is generally uncommon (Reid, 1997) and restricted to narrow habitat types.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This bat roosts in caves and mines, often in colonies of several thousand. It emerges about an hour after sunset to feed on nectar and pollen. It lands on the flowers or may hover for short periods to feed. Night roosts, including buildings, are used after feeding (Reid, 1997). Asociated with thorn scrub with columnar cactus and Agave plants (Soriano and Mantilla pers. comm.). The ecosystem is rare and dispersed throughout its range. This species is "keystone" in its ecosystem as a pollinator and seed disperser of agave and cactus (and other plants associated with the habitat type). The species is migratory and colonies are sexually seperated. Breeds on islands and resricted to specific breeding caves.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This bat roosts in caves and mines, often in colonies of several thousand. It emerges about an hour after sunset to feed on nectar and pollen. It lands on the flowers or may hover for short periods to feed. Night roosts, including buildings, are used after feeding (Reid, 1997). Asociated with thorn scrub with columnar cactus and Agave plants (Soriano and Mantilla pers. comm.). The ecosystem is rare and dispersed throughout its range. This species is "keystone" in its ecosystem as a pollinator and seed disperser of agave and cactus (and other plants associated with the habitat type). The species is migratory and colonies are sexually seperated. Breeds on islands and resricted to specific breeding caves.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Conversion of the ecosystem, which is rapidly being developed. Narrow range of habitat type, which is coastal - where much human expansion is occurring. Caves are very specific and threatened by vandalism. Maternity colonies are extremely vulnerable.

Major Threat(s):

Conversion of the ecosystem, which is rapidly being developed. Narrow range of habitat type, which is coastal - where much human expansion is occurring. Caves are very specific and threatened by vandalism. Maternity colonies are extremely vulnerable.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Needs conservation of maternity caves and habitat type.

Conservation Actions:

Needs conservation of maternity caves and habitat type.

Citation:	Soriano, P. & Molinari, J. 2008. Leptonycteris curasoae. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 June 2013.
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