Peropteryx is a Neotropical genus of insectivorous bats and it is
represented by four species in Venezuela (Simmons, 2005). These
bats roost in shallow caves, rocky crevices, hollow trees, fallen logs,
and manmade structures (Dunlop, 1998). To date, data on natural
history for Peropteryx are scarce (e.g., Bradbury & Vehrencamp, 1976;
Dunlop, 1998) and research topics studied in Venezuela are restricted
to taxonomy and geographic information (e.g., Handley, 1976).
During a study of bat communities in Northern Venezuela, we
found one diurnal roost used by Peropteryx kappleri in the Sierra de
Aroa, Yaracuy State. The colony consisted of an adult couple with
two young, living together. Our study provides some additional data
on diet and thus contributes to ecological information of the family
Emballonuridae.
The roost (10° 26’N; 68° 51’W) was located at a rocky crevice in
a disturbed riparian forest near small farms and pastures by the river
“Cumaraguita”, sector Papelón, Sierra de Aroa, Yaracuy State. This
sierra has a surface of 114.103 ha. (Bevilacqua et al., 2006) and an al-
titudinal range between 100–1920m. The average annual precipita-
tion is between 800-1500 mm and the range of annual temperature is
between 10–26.5°C (Alvarado, 2008).
We carried out four visits to the roost: two in the dry season
(March and April, 2007) and two in the wet season (May and June,
2007). We fully extended a piece of polyethylene plastic below the
roost, ca. 0.5m above the ground over the surface where shed feces of
the bats could be caught. This procedure was implemented to both
quantify the faecal material and avoid samples being removed by ar
-
thropods and vertebrates.
Samples were collected once a month during diurnal hours,
with bats present, and during each month, observations to verify sus
-
pected absence of other bat species were carried out, to verify that P.
kappleri individuals were not living with other species as previously
reported (Yee, 2000). In the laboratory, samples were dried and di
-
luted in Petri dishes with ethanol 70%. Insect prey remains found
(e.g., heads, antennae, legs, scales) were separated into vials using a
stereo microscope. We counted individuals on the basis of insect re
-
mains following procedures from Lasso and Jarrin (2005). Identifica
-
tions were made at the order level and in some cases at the family
level, using entomological keys in Borror and White (1987).
Prey consumed by Peropteryx kappleri 29