Lophostoma kalkoae is a New World leaf-nosed bat(family Phyllostomidae) known only from Panama. This species is distinguished by the following characteristics (Velazco & Gardner 2012):
Holotype.—An adult male (USNM 582249; Fig. 3, M54237–54246) caught on Pipeline Road, near the former Limbo Hunt Club (9°9'50''N, 79°45'10''W), Soberania National Park, Colón Province, Panamá, by Elisabeth K. V. Kalko (field number EKVK 118) on 11 October 1998. The holotype is preserved in alcohol with the skull removed and cleaned. The upper and lower dentition lost some of the enamel during initial preservation in unbuffered formalin.
Paratype.—An adult pregnant female (EKVK 119 to be deposited in the MVUP, M54224–M54236, M54247– M54255) caught at the type locality by Elisabeth K. V. Kalko (original field number EKVK 119) on 11 October 1998. The paratype is preserved in alcohol with the skull removed and cleaned. As with the holotype, the dentition has lost some enamel due to decalcification in unbuffered formalin.
Distribution.—The new species is currently known only from the type locality (Fig. 1).
Etymology.—The name kalkoae is in honor of our late friend Dr. Elisabeth K. V. Kalko, a remarkable scientist who collected both specimens and who has contributed in significant ways to the understanding of bat behavior and ecology worldwide.
Measurements.—External and craniodental measurements are presented inTable 2.
Diagnosis.—Postauricular patches connected by a thin line of pale hairs to the white fur on the chest; ventrally the proximal one-third of the forearm covered with long white hair; the clitoris elongated and labia swollen (M54253– M54255); hairs on rim of pinna are whitish; lateral projection of mastoid region of the skull less developed that in other Lophostoma; lingual cingulum of the upper canine strongly indented; P3 well developed; posterior lingual cusp on the cingulum of P4 well developed; M1 parastyle absent; M1 hypocone absent or weakly developed; M1 lingual cingulum present; M2 parastyle absent; M2 hypocone absent or weakly developed; M2 lingual cingulum present.
Description and comparisons.—A medium-sized Lophostoma (FA 44.6–45.8 mm; GLS 23.2–23.8 mm; CCL 19.2– 19.6 mm; Table 2). All linear measurements of L. kalkoae show overlap with those of L. carrikeri and L. schulzi; L. kalkoae is larger than L. brasiliense, and smaller than L. evotis, L. occidentalis, L. silvicolum, and L. yasuni (Table 3). Dorsal pelage in all species of Lophostoma is dark brown and long; individual hairs tricolored with a short, white base (approximately 15% of the length of each hair), a long, dark brown subterminal band (approximately 80% of each hair), and a very short, pale to whitish terminal band. Gular fur is dark brown in L. kalkoae, L. brasiliense, L. evotis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum, but pale to whitish in L. carrikeri, L. occidentalis, and L. yasuni. L. kalkoae, L. occidentalis, and L. evotis have white to pale gray postauricular patches (absent in L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. schulzi, L. silvicolum, and L. yasuni) that are connected by a thin line of pale hairs to the white fur on the chest in L. kalkoae (pale line also present in L. evotis, which has a dark venter). The ventral fur is white across the chest, but restricted laterally over the abdomen by the pale brown fur of the sides of the body in L. kalkoae, L. carrikeri, and L. yasuni (venter pale brown in L. brasiliense, L. occidentalis, and L. schulzi; pale to dark brown chest in L. evotis, and L. silvicolum). Abdominal fur is white in L. kalkoae, L. carrikeri, and L. yasuni (pale brown in L. occidentalis, L. brasiliense, and L. schulzi; dark brown in L. evotis and L. silvicolum). Pinnae are sparsely haired and have a whitish rim; folds in the pinna are well marked; a band of skin across the head connects the internal bases of the pinnae. Uropatagium is essentially naked. The dorsal surface of the forearm appears naked in L. kalkoae, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum (the proximal one-third is conspicuously covered with sparse, short hair in L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, and L. yasuni); ventrally the proximal one-third of the forearm is covered with long, white hair in L. kalkoae (long, pale brown hair in L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, and L. occidentalis; short, pale brown hair in L. schulzi and L. silvicolum). The dorsal surface of the forearm, digits, legs, and sagittal midline of nose leaf lack wartlike granulations in L. kalkoae, L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. occidentalis, L. evotis, and L. silvicolum (present in L. schulzi). Dorsal surfaces of the feet are covered with short hair. Females have an elongated clitoris and swollen labia (dark red in the live specimen) in L. kalkoae and L. carrikeri (the clitoris is remarkably elongated and resembles the penis of males in L. schulzi; clitoris elongated but labia not swollen in L. brasiliense, L. occidentalis, and L. silvicolum). As is characteristic of other Lophostoma, metacarpal III is shorter than metacarpal V; there are 2 genal vibrissae, along with approximately 10 submental vibrissae on each side of the chin, and 2 interramal vibrissae implanted in a basal bulb.
The skull of L. kalkoae has a slender rostrum with an accentuated postorbital constriction resembling that of L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, and L. occidentalis (rostrum is robust in L. evotis, L. schulzi, L. silvicolum, and L. yasuni). Sagittal crest well developed in the female (EKVK 119) and weakly developed in the male (USNM 582249). Lateral development of the mastoid region is less in L. kalkoae and L. brasiliense; moderate in L. carrikeri; strongly developed and projecting well beyond sides of braincase in L. evotis, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, L. silvicolum, and L. yasuni. The basioccipital is narrow; basisphenoid pits shallow and the midline septum comparatively wide; whereas in L. carrikeri basisphenoid pits are deeper and the septum conspicuously narrower.
Upper central incisors (I1) are well developed and orthodont; outer upper incisors (I2) well developed and convergent in L. kalkoae (smaller in L. carrikeri). I2 is not displaced from occlusion toothrow. A deep indentation is present on the lingual cingulum of the upper canine in L. kalkoae and L. silvicolum (not as well marked in L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, L. occidentalis, and L. schulzi). P3 is tall and well developed in L. kalkoae (shorter in L. carrikeri); labial cingulum of P3 weakly developed in L. kalkoae, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum (absent in L. brasiliense). P4 is longer than wide in occlusal view in L. kalkoae, L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, L. occidentalis, and L. silvicolum (length and width subequal in L. schulzi); posterior lingual cusp on the cingulum of P4 well developed in L. kalkoae (weakly developed in L. carrikeri). Metacone and paracone of M1 are subequal in height; postparacrista contacts premetacrista on labial aspect of M1, hence the trigon is closed labially in L. kalkoae, L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, and L. schulzi (postparacrista does not contact premetacrista; therefore, trigon open labially in L. evotis, L. occidentalis, and L. silvicolum). M1 parastyle is absent in L. kalkoae and L. carrikeri (present in L. brasiliense, L. evotis, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum); M1 hypocone either absent or weakly developed in L. kalkoae, L. carrikeri, and L. evotis (moderately to well developed in L. brasiliense, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum); M1 lingual cingulum present in L. kalkoae and L. occidentalis (absent in L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum). Metacone and paracone of M2 are subequal in height; postparacrista contacts premetacrista on labial aspect of M2 closing the trigon labially in L. kalkoae, L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, and L. schulzi (postparacrista does not contact premetacrista, hence trigon open labially in L. evotis, L. occidentalis, and L. silvicolum); M2 without parastyle in L. kalkoae and L. carrikeri (present in L. brasiliense, L. evotis, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum); M2 hypocone either absent or weakly developed in L. kalkoae and L. carrikeri (moderately or well developed in L. brasiliense, L. evotis, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum); M2 lingual cingulum present in L. kalkoae and L. occidentalis (absent in L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum). M3 is compressed labiolingually.
Length and width of the crown of the lower inner incisors are subequal in L. kalkoae, L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, and L. schulzi (crown longer than wide in L. evotis; width greater than length in L. occidentalis and L. silvicolum). The p3 is well developed in L. kalkoae, L. carrikeri, L. evotis, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum (p3 minute in L. brasiliense); p3 aligned in toothrow (occlusal view) in L. kalkoae, L. carrikeri, L. occidentalis, L. schulzi, and L. silvicolum (p3 labially displaced, not in line with other teeth in L. brasiliense and L. evotis). Labial cingulid of p4 is undulate in L. kalkoae, L. brasiliense, L. carrikeri, and L. evotis (straight in L. occidentalis, L. silvicolum, and L. schulzi).
Kalko's round-eared bat (Lophostoma kalkoae) is a species of leaf-nosed bat endemic to Panama.
It was described as a new species in 2012 by Paúl Velazco and Alfred Gardner. The holotype was collected in Soberanía National Park in Panama in October 1998. The specific epithet "kalkoae" is in honor of Elisabeth K. V. Kalko. Kalko had collected the holotype and the paratype for this species; Velazco and Gardner stated that she has "contributed in significant ways to the understanding of bat behavior and ecology worldwide."[2]
It is a medium-sized member of its genus, with a forearm length of 44.6–45.8 mm (1.76–1.80 in). The fur on its back is long and dark brown, while the fur on its ventral side is white on the chest and pale brown on its sides.[2]
Little is known about the biology of this species. A small colony of 12 individuals was documented inside a hollowed-out Azteca ant nest situated on a tree so that the nest was 12 m (39 ft) off the ground. A pregnant female was once documented in October.[2]
As of 2016, the species has not been documented outside of the type locality in Panama, Soberanía National Park.[1]
As of 2016, it is evaluated as a data deficient species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this classification because, as a recently described species, its ecology and natural history are not yet well-known.[1]
Kalko's round-eared bat (Lophostoma kalkoae) is a species of leaf-nosed bat endemic to Panama.
