Occasional Papers

Museum of Texas Tech University

NUMBER 175 21 APRIL 1998

OBSERVATIONS ON BATS OF CORDOBA
AND LA PAMPA PROVINCES,
ARGENTINA

Sergio /. Tiranti Paz and Marcos P. Torres Martinez

Bat faunas of a particular region or area gener¬
ally are less known than other groups of mammals be¬
cause of the difficulties associated with collecting bats.
In central Argentina, particularly in Cordoba and La
Pampa Provinces, earlier reports have included a num¬
ber of localities for several bat species for which infor¬
mation regarding distribution, reproductive data, mea¬
surements. and habitat information is available (Crespo
et ah, 1961; Pomes and Massoia, 1967; De Santis and
Justo, 1978; Montalvo et ah, 1988; Siegenthaler et ah,
1990a; 19906; Barquez and Ojeda, 1992; Vaccaro,
1992; Mares et ah, 1995). Nevertheless, little is known
about the presence of some bat species in a particular
area, and therefore information regarding reproduction,
meristics, and ecology is lacking. In addition to the
species mentioned in this report, Histiotus macrotus
(Poeppig, 1835) and Molossus ater(E. Geoffroy, 1805)
are known from single locality records for Cordoba
Province; Villa Cura Brochcro, San Alberto Department
(Barquez and Ojeda, 1992) and Alta Gracia, Santa

Maria Department (Fomes and Massoia, 1967), respec¬
tively.

In central Argentina, it is possible to observe the
convergence of a wide array of phytogeographical re¬
gions, such as the Monte Desert, dominated by creo¬
sote-bushes (Larrea sp.); the Espinal, generally con¬
sidered an extension of the Chaco or an impoverished
Chaco without quebracho trees, is characterized by xe-
rophilous scrub forests dominated by Prosopis trees;
the Pampean grasslands; and towards the west and south,
the Patagonian shrub-steppe (Cabrera, 1976). In each
of these regions, an intermingling of subtropical and
temperate faunas occurs. The Pampean Sierras, inter¬
spersed in an otherwise overwhelmingly flat country,
offer the opportunity for the development of endemism
and the isolation of species of Patagonian or Andean
affinities (Polop, 1989). Additionally, salt flats with
their associated biota ofhalophylous communities, con¬
form distinct units in the landscape, and harbor a unique
mammalian fauna (Braun and Mares, 1995).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Since 1980, collections and observations of bats cially in the south of Cordoba Province. In La Pampa
were made in different localities (Figure 1), but espe- Province, most specimens were obtained during La

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Figure 1. Map of central Argentina depicting collecting localities in Cordoba and La Pam pa provinces. Locality
numbers referred to the gazetteer.

Pampa Vertebrate Survey Plan de Relevamiento de los
Vertebrados de la Provincia de La Pampa (RVP) col¬
lecting activities (Siegenthaler et ah, 1990 a, b ). Col¬

lecting areas were generally rural settings in agricul¬
tural and grazing land, and sites with buildings in which
roosts and maternity colonies were sometimes found.

T1RANT1 AND TORRES— OBSERVATIONS ON BATS OF ARGENTINA

3

Bats were captured with the use of mist nets and by
hand. Nets were placed in tree groves, around build¬
ings, in discharge tunnels and mine shafts, and on the
faces of cliffs. On a few occasions, an air rifle or a .22-
caliber firearm with dust shot were used to obtain crev¬
ice dwelling mastiff bats ( Eumops perotis) and out of
reach tree bats ( Lasiurus cine re us). Skeletal remains
of two specimens ( Tadarida brasiliensis , Eptesicus
diminutus) were obtained from barn owl (Tyto alba
tuidara) pellets. Measurements were made with digi¬
tal calipers and forearm length was taken on fresh speci¬

mens. Linear measurements are in millimeters. Times
are in hours. On a few occasions, embryos were col¬
lected and some specimens were karyotyped. Speci¬
mens were prepared as skins and skulls. Specimens
from La Pampa Vertebrate Survey (RVP) are deposited
in the Museo Provincial de Historia Natural, Santa Rosa,
La Pampa, Argentina. The mammal collections of the
Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto (UNRC), Rio
Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina, and the Museum of Texas
Tech University (ITU), Lubbock, Texas, also were used
for obtaining information and measurements.

ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES

Family Phyllostomidac
Desmodus rotundas

(E. Geoffroy, 1810)

Specimens examined (20).— Cordoba Province:
Calamuchita Department, Segunda Usina, (TTU 64320
and UNRC 111-112); Pocho Department, Chancani,
Estancia Aguas Blancas (TTU 66464-66475 and
UNRC 113-116); Rio Cuarto Department, 10 km W
Espinillo, Estancia La Cautiva (UNRC 110).

Comments. — This species has been sighted com¬
monly in Cordoba Province (Crespo et al., 1961,
Barquez and Ojeda, 1992).

At Segunda Usina, a colony of about 15 males
inhabiting the discharge tunnel of the dam, was netted
when exiting. Species collected at the same location
included Myotis levis dinellii and Histiotus montanus.
Other bats collected nearby included Eumops perotis ,
E. bonariensis bonariensis , Tadarida brasiliensis,
Lasiurus blossevillii, and Lasiurus cine reus, thus mak¬
ing Segunda Usina the locality with the highest diver¬
sity of bat species in this report. At this place, Chaco
Serrano forest, cliffs, rock outcroppings, and hills were
characteristic features. At Estancia Aguas Blancas,
Chancani, a horizontal shaft at an abandoned gold mine
surrounded by Chacoan scrub forests provided a home
for hundreds of vampire bats. At the time of capture (2
April 1983), pregnant females possessed embryos with

crown-rump lengths of 34 and 37 mm and forearm
lengths of 21 and 24. In June 1995, several specimens
were netted 100 m from the mine while exiting at dusk
(1900) and upon returning to the mine at 2100. Two
nursingyoung (forearm length 49) were found with their
mothers. At an abandoned house at Estancia La Cautiva,
Espinillo, a single male for this species was found roost¬
ing inside a closet. This record represents the south¬
ernmost locality in Argentina. The vampire has ben¬
efited from human activities which have provided food
(livestock) and refuges (buildings, mines, tunnels), thus,
probably allowing for an expansion into areas not pre¬
viously inhabited by the species (Crespo et al., 1961).
The distribution of the vampire bat is l imited by its ca¬
pacity to withstand cold temperatures; it would be dis¬
tributed within the limits of the 10° C minimal winter
isotherm In the present case, this locality is almost
outside these limits (McNab, 1973).

Means and ranges of selected measurements for
16 adult specimens (9 males, 7 females) from Cordoba
Province, Pocho Department, Chancani, Estancia Aguas
Blancas, are: forearm length (65.06, 62.00-69.00);
greatest length of skull (25.02, 24,13-26.11);
condylobasal length (22.74, 21.66-23.44); least inter-
orbital breadth (5.39, 4.93-5.94); zygomatic breadth
(12.34, 11.78-13.08); breadth of braincase (12.66,
12.39-13.32); length of maxillary toothrow (3.66,3.40-
4.06); madibular toothrow (4.79,4.38-5.12); and great¬
est length of mandible (15.51, 14.74-16.22).

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Family Vespertilionidae
Eptesicus diminutus
Osgood, 1915

Specimens examined (1).— La Pampa Province:
Loventue Department, Victorica (Escuela Agro
Ganadera) (from owl pellet, RVP 227).

Additional records.— The only record for this
species (as Eptesicus fidelis) in La Pampa Province was
provided by De Santis and Justo (1978) for Toay De¬
partment, 25 km S Luan Toro.

Comments. — The only reference for the habitat
that this bat species utilizes in La Pampa is given by De
Santis and Justo (1978), in which they stated that it
inhabits cavities in Calden trees {Prosopts caldenia),
in a general habitat of Espinal forests. There are very
few records of this bat in Argentina, which is distrib¬
uted in Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Misiones, Jujuy,
Corrientes, Salta, andTucuman Provinces (Barquez and
Ojeda, 1992, Mares etah, 1996).

Eptesicus furinalis
(d’Orbigny, 1847)

Specimens examined (21).— Cordoba Province:
Pocho Department, Chancani, Estancia Aguas Blancas
(UNRC 117); Rio Cuarto Department, Coronel
Baigorria, Estancia San Gonzalo headquarters (TTU
64321). La Pampa Province: Capital Department, Santa
Rosa (TTU 64322-64332, UNRC 118-121), 10 km E
Santa Rosa, Estancia Don Hipolito (RVP 228);
Guatrache Department, Guatrache (RVP 231);
Loventue Department, 30 km W Victorica, Estancia La
Elenita (RVP 143); Toay Department, Cachirulo (RVP
229), Parque Luro (RVP 230).

Additional records. — La Pampa Province:
Lihuel Calel Department, 10 km N Cuchillo Co,
Estancia El Alamo (from owl pellet; Tiranti, 1992).
Toay Department, 25 km S Luan Toro, Estancia La
Florida and Loventue Department, Carro Quemado(De
Santis and Justo, 1978). For Cordoba Province this
species is recorded from in Bialet Masse (Punilla De¬
partment); and Cruz del Eje (Cruz del Eje Department)
(Barquez and Ojeda, 1992).

Comments. — In Santa Rosa, La Pampa Prov¬
ince, these bats were captured repeatedly with Tadarida
hrasiliensis in a warehouse where the bats roosted in
cracks and holes among cinder blocks and beams. In
Estancia La Elenita, a bat was found roosting under the
bark on the trunk of a Calden. In Santa Rosa, many
Eptesicus furinalis individuals were young of the year,
volant juveniles with cartilaginous metacarpo-pha-
langeal joints (24 January 1991). Lactating females
were found in Santa Rosa on 13 December 1990.

Localities in La Pampa Province mostly repre¬
sent remnants or modified patches of the Espinal Biome
including deforested land. The southern portion of the
Espinal is composed of Calden forests. These are open
forests with trees 8 to 10 m in height and a ground cover
of grasses (Cabrera, 1976; Cano et ah, 1980).

In Estancia San Gonzalo, Coronel Baigorria,
Cordoba Province, one specimen, a lactating female,
was netted on 4 January 1991 in riparian forest of mostly
exotic tree species along Chucul Creek. The surround¬
ing habitat was agricultural and grazing land. Other
bat species present at this locality were Tadarida
hrasiliensis , Lasiurus blossevillii , and Myotis levis
dinellii .

In Estancia Aguas Blancas, Chancani, Pocho
Department, Cordoba Province, a specimen was cap¬
tured with a mist net along an irrigation canal surrounded
by Chacoan scrub vegetation.

Means and ranges of selected measurements of
nine adult specimens (1 male, 8 females) from La
Pampa, Capital Department, Santa Rosa, are: forearm
length (43.62, 42.20-46.20), greatest length of skull
(16.29, 15.80-16.67); condylobasal length (15.86,
15.20-16.56); least interorbital breadth (4.07, 3.94-
4.30); zygomatic breadth (11.58, 11.24-11.89); breadth
of braincase (7.82, 7.69-8.00); length of maxillary
toothrow (6.13,6.01-6,24); madibular toothrow (6.67,
6.47-6.96); and greatest length of mandible (12.07,
IL78-12.54).

TIRANTI AND TORRES— OBSERVATIONS ON BATS OF ARGENTINA

5

Hist lot us montan us
(Philippi and Landbeck, 1861)

Specimens examined (10).— Cordoba Province:
Calamuchita Department, Segunda Usina (TTU 64333);
Rio Cuarto Department, Espinillo, Estancia La Cautiva
(TTU 66476-66480, UNRC 122-125).

Additional records. — Cordoba Province: San
Alberto Department, Pampa de Achala (Polop, 1989),
Also, Barquez and Ojeda (1992) provided various lo¬
calities of this species in this province.

Comments. — The long-eared bat was found oc¬
casionally in buildings in Cordoba Province, Rio Cuarto
Department, Espinillo, Estancia La Cautiva. Roosts
included the spaces between wooden beams and the
channels of metal or fibercement roof sheets, in which
the bats were in a horizontal position. On one occa¬
sion, 11 pregnant females were observed inside a big
crack in the wall of a small building. A few of these
were collected (l November 1983) and had embryos
with crown-rump lengths of 15-16. Inside a window
frame of an abandoned house, 40-50 adults and volant
juveniles were observed forming a big clump, giving
the idea that this bat forms maternity colonies. Lactat-
ing females and volant juveniles were found 27 Decem¬
ber 1984. The surrounding habitat was riparian forest
alongside the Cuarto River, with patches of grasslands,
and crops, and tree groves nearby.

Means and ranges of selected measurements of
four adult females from Cordoba Province, Rio Cuarto
Department, Espinillo, Estancia La Cautiva, are: fore¬
arm length (48.00,46.00-50.00); greatest length of skull
(17.86, 1 7*55-18.13); condylobasal length (17.05,
16.74-17.24); least interorbital breadth (4.35, 4.18-
4.43); zygomatic breadth (11.47,11.26-11.67); breadth
of braincase (8.41, 8.21-8.59), length of maxillary
toothrow (6.44, 6.38-6.51); madibular toothrow (6.99,
6.94-7.01); and greatest length of mandible (12.41.
12.21-12.53).

Means and ranges of selected measurements of
subadult (volant young with cartilaginous metacarpo-
phangeal joints) specimens (1 male, 4 females) from
the same locality as above are: forearm length (47.40,
46.00-49.00); greatest length of skull (17.43, 17.14-
17.63); condylobasal length (16.36, 15.85-16.86); least

interorbital breadth (4.36, 4.21-4.44); zygomatic
breadth (10.43, 10.28-10.55); breadth of braincase
(8.15, 7.89-8.35); length of maxillary toothrow (6.19,
6.00-6.32); madibular toothrow (6.82, 6.62-6.96); and
greatest length of mandible (11.96, 11.58-12.42).

Lasiurus blossevillii
(Lesson and Garnot, 1826)

Specimens examined (11),— Cordoba Province:
Calamuchita Department, Segunda Usina (UNRC 132);
Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto, (UN RC 126-131),
Coronel Baigorria, Estancia San Gonzalo headquarters
(TTU 66481-66482). La Pampa Province: Capital
Department, 10 km E Santa Rosa, Estancia Don
Hipolito (RVP 232), Guatrache Department, Laguna
Chillhud (RVP 233).

Additional records. — La Pampa Province:
Maraco Department, General Pico, as L. borealis
blossevillii (Crespo, 1974). Barquez and Ojeda(1992)
provided various localities for Cordoba Province as L
borealis.

Comments .— Lasiurus blossevillii has a com¬
plicated taxonomic history. This taxon sometimes is
treated as a subspecies of borealis, but may in fact war¬
rant specific status. Baker et al. (1988), using informa¬
tion derived from protein electrophoresis, separated
borealis from blossevillii , regarding the latter as a full
species and considered Lasiurus borealis to be restricted
to the eastern United States. Later, Morales and
Rickham (1995) postulated that the northern and south¬
ern populations of Lasiurus blossevillii may represent
separate species.

Most Lasiurus blossevillii specimens were found
in pine and Celtis sp. trees in Segunda Usina, and aca¬
cia and palm trees in Rio Cuarto. In Santa Rosa (10 km
W), La Pampa, one volant juvenile with cartilaginous
metacarpo-phalangeal joints was netted with two
Epiesicus furinalis individuals in the yard of a rural
home (11 February 1989). The habitat of the area was
Espinal with Calden trees. One female specimen was
obtained while clinging to small twigs on a barranca in
Laguna Chillhue (8 May 1988). In Estancia San
Gonzalo, Coronel Baigorria, two volant juveniles with
cartilaginous metacarpo-phalangeal joints were netted

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

in riparian habitat alongside the nascent Chucul Creek,
with forests of Ugustrum , Salix, and Populus, with
patches of grasslands, crops, and tree groves in the sur¬
rounding areas (13 January 1990). Volant juveniles
(with cartilaginous metacarpal phalangeal joints) and a
lactating female were found on 6 January 1983 at Rio
Cuarto. The bats formed clumps composed of adult fe¬
males and young. One clump was made up of nine in¬
dividuals, and two clumps of 4 individuals, were lo¬
cated in the upper branches of acacia trees.

Means and ranges of selected measurements of
six adult specimens (2 males, 4 females) from Cordoba
Province, Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto, are: fore¬
arm length (42.83,41.00-44.00); greatest length ofskull
(12.13, 11.58-12.60); condylobasal length (11.98,
11.53, 12.46); least intcrorbital breadth (4.31, 4.16-
4.40); zygomatic breadth (9.01,8.74-9.33); breadth of
braincase (7.54, 7.21-7.76); length of maxillary
toothrow (4.01,3.72-4.27): mandibular toothrow (4.70,
4.38-5.06); and greatest length of mandible (8.85,8.09-
9.30).

Lasiurus cinereus

(Beauvois, 1796)

Specimens examined (4).— Cordoba Province:
Calamuchita Department Segunda Usina (UNRC 135);
Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto (UNRC 133-134).
La Pampa Province: Toay Department, ca. 30 km W
Santa Rosa, Estancia Quitrahue (RVP 234).

Additional records. — Cordoba Province: Punilla
Department, Bialet Masse (Barquez and Ojeda, 1992).
La Pampa Province: Maraco Department, Colonia San
Jose (Montalvo et ah, 1988).

Comments. — Hoary bats were found roosting in
acacia trees in Rio Cuarto and tala trees (Celtis sp.) in
Segunda Usina. In Rio Cuarto, three specimens, an
adult lactating female and volant juveniles, were ob¬
tained in an acacia bolatree, whereas other individuals
roosted isolated from one another (6 January 1983).

An unusual find of this species was made inside a
warehouse in Estancia Quitrahue, Toay Department, La
Pampa Province (29 October 1993), where the general
area habitats are Espinal forests.

Selected measurements of two adult specimens (1
male, l female respectively) from Cordoba Province,
Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto, are: forearm length
53.00, 54.00; greatest length of skull 14.23, 15.74;
condylobasal length 14.42, 15.74; least interorbital
breadth 5.26, 5.74, zygomatic breadth 11.20, 12.12;
breadth of braincase 9.32, 9.48; length ot maxillary
toothrow 5.13, 5.62; mandibular toothrow 5.84, 6.34;
and greatest length of mandible 11.01, 12.30.

Lasiurus ega

(Gervais, 1856)

Specimens examined (2).— Cordoba Province:
Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto (UNRC 136-137).

Additional records. — Cordoba Province: Besides
Rio Cuarto, the species has been recorded for Colon
Department, Rio Ceballos and Capital Department,
Cordoba (Barquez and Ojeda, 1992). La Pampa Prov¬
ince: Capital Department, Santa Rosa (as Dasypterus ;
Montalvo et ah, 1988); Maraco Department, General
Pico (Crespo, 1974).

Comments. — In Rio Cuarto, the southern yel¬
low bat was obtained among the dead leaves of palm
trees and yuccas. This species has been reported to
roost in palm trees (Fornes and Massoia, 1967; Crespo,

1974), and it seems possible that this bat could have
benefited by finding suitable habitat owing to the plant¬
ing of palm trees.

Selected measurements of an adult male from
Cordoba Province, Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto,
are: greatest length of skull 15.34; condylobasal length
15.04; least interorbital breadth 4.90; zygomatic breadth
11.15; breadth of braincase 8.64; length of maxillary
toothrow 5.10; madibular toothrow 6.12; and greatest
length of mandible 11.72.

Lasiurus salinae
Thomas, 1902

Specimens examined (1).— La Pampa Province:
Atreuco Department, N border of Salinas Grandes de
Hidalgo (RVP 235).

TIRANTI AND TORRES— OBSERVATIONS ON BATS OF ARGENTINA

7

Comments, — This represents the first record for
La Pampa Province of this species of tree bat, which
was originally described as a subspecies of L. borealis
by Thomas (1902). Barquez (1987) synonymized this
taxon with Lasiurus borealis blossevillii , but recently
Mares et al. (1995) tentatively revalidated it to species
rank. This species apparently inhabits the halophytic
communities that surround salt flats. As stated by Mares
et al. (1995), this bat is darker than the otherwise simi¬
lar Lasiurus blossevillii , with which it is sympatric in
some localities. Previous records include localities in
Catamarca, San Juan, Tucuman, and Cordoba Provinces
(Mares et al. 1995). The bat was found dormant in a
small hollow at 2 m height in the loess bank surround¬
ing the salt flat of Salinas Grandes on 2 May 1989.
This locality in La Pampa Province is indeed a large
salt flat which harbors halophytic communities in its
margins, and is surrounded by Chacoan-like Espinal
thorn-scrub forests. The adjacent areas are pastures
and croplands. Braun and Mares (1995) have shown
that these salt flats harbor a unique mammalian fauna,
which has a unique and shared evolutionary history with
the accompanying biota. The finding of specialized
mammals that inhabit these salt Hats, such as
Andalgalomys and Salmomys (Braun and Mares 1995),
provide additional biogeographic support for the rec¬
ognition of Lasiurus salinae as a distinct species. Nev¬
ertheless, genetic studies are needed before the system¬
atic status of this species can be resolved.

Selected measurements of an adult male from La
Pampa Province, Atreuco Department, Salinas Grandes
de Hidalgo, are: forearm 39.00; greatest length of skull
11.65; condylobasal length 11.70; least interorbital
breadth 4.28; zygomatic breadth 9.04; breadth of brain-
case 7.58; length of maxillary toothrow 4.13; mandibu¬
lar toothrow 4.42; and greatest length of mandible 8.44.

Myotis levis dinellii
1. Geoffroy, 1824

Specimens examined (37).— Cordoba Province:
Calamuchita Department, Segunda Usina (TTU 64334,
UNRC 147-148); Cruz del Eje Department, Palo Parado
(TTU 64335-64336); Pocho Department, Chancani,
Estancia Aguas Blancas (TTU 66483-66488, UNRC
149-152); Rio Cuarto Department, 10 km W Espinillo,
Estancia La Cautiva (UNRC 138), Paso del Durazno

(UNRC 139-140), La GiIda (UNRC 141-142), Coronel
Baigorria, Estancia San Gonzalo headquarters (TTU
64337-64345, 66489-66491, UNRC 143-146). La
Pampa Province: Calcu Caleu Department, Almacen El
52 (RVP 180, TTU 64346-64347); Lihuel Calel De¬
partment, Estancia Los Ranqueles (RVP 135-137);
Utracan Department, Chacharramendi (RVP 236).

Additional records. — La Pampa Province: Chical
Co Department, Agua de Torres (as Myotis chiloensis
dinellii', DeSantis and Jus to, 1978). Barquez and Ojeda
(1992) provide several locality records for these bats in
Cordoba Province.

Comments. — At our localities in Cordoba prov¬
ince, this bat, along with Tadarida brasiliensis , was
the most common species. Both were found together in
most rural buildings that were suitable as roosts. Preg¬
nant females collected in Espinillo had embryos of 5
and 12(1 November 1983), 13 and 16 mm (11 and 15
November 1981). In Paso del Durazno, pregnant fe¬
males had embryos measuring 17 and 20 (27 Novem¬
ber 1981). In Estancia San Gonzalo, Coronel Baigorria,
volant juveniles were found on 14 January 1990. and
I aerating females were taken on 4 January 1991. Roosts
in buildings included the spaces between wooden beams
and between bricks used in sheet metal roofs. Some of
the bigger cracks were shared with Tadarida
brasiliensis.

Some specimens were netted at Segunda Usina in
the opening of a discharge tunnel, along with Desmodus
rotundus and Histiotus montanus.

In La Pampa, Caleu Caleu Department, Almacen
El 52, three specimens were netted outside an aban¬
doned house on 24 October 1990. There, the bats prob¬
ably roosted in the cracks in the adobe and brick walls.
The surrounding habitat in this area was Espinal Calden
forests.

The La Pampa localities are in the Espinal and
the wide Espinal-Monte Desert ecotone, which is formed
by a mosaic of low forests ( Prosopis caldenia , P
flexuosa ), and the shrublands. In Estancia Los
Ranqueles, Myotis levis dinellii inhabited a small ware¬
house along with Tadarida brasiliensis, where a loud
and smoky diesel engine generated electricity*

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Means and ranges of selected measurements of
16 adult specimens (4 males, 12 females) from Cordoba,
Rio Cuarto Department, Coronel Baigorria, Estancia
San Gonzalo headquarters, are: forearm length (36.97,
35.00-38.00); greatest length of skull (14.56, 14.20-
15.06): condylobasal length (13.88,13.38-14.56); least
interorbital breadth (3.59, 3.40-3.72); zygomatic
breadth (8.92, 8.65-9.43); breadth of braincase (6.99,
6.68-7.48); length of maxillary toothrow (5.55, 5.36-
5.73); mandibular toothrow (5.84, 5.23-6.06); and
greatest length of mandible (10.50, 10.07-11.00).

Family Molossidae
Eumops bonariensis bonariensis
(Peters, 1874)

Specimens examined (1).— Cordoba Province:
Calamuchita Department, Segunda Usina (UNRC 153).

Comments. — The single specimen representing
the only record for Cordoba Province was collected from
the beams of a small warehouse with a galvanized steel
roof. Tadarida brasiliensis and Myotis levis dinellii
also were taken from this site.

Selected measurements of an adult from Cordoba
Province, Calamuchita Department, Segunda Usina, are:
greatest length of skull (19.80), condylobasal length
(18.54), least interorbita! breadth (4.59), zygomatic
breadth (12.12), breadth of braincase (10.29), length
of maxillary toothrow (7.44), madibular toothrow
(8.12), and greatest length of mandible (13.92).

Eumops perotis

(Schinz, 1821)

Specimens examined (5).— Cordoba Province:
Calamuchita Department, Segunda Usina (TTU 64348-
64352).

Additional records. — For Cordoba Province,
Barquez and Ojeda (1992) gave two localities in addi¬
tion to Segunda Usina (Embalse Rio Tercero). They
are in Sobremonte Department, Los Hoyos, and Capi¬
tal Department, Cordoba.

Comments. In Segunda Usina, a colony of mas¬
tiff bats estimated to be around 20 individuals was lo¬
cated in March 1980 in a big crevice in the face of a 30
m high cliff with overhanging vegetation of Chaco
Serrano. Any intent of counting the individual bats as
they flew out was hampered by their extreme wariness.
On several occasions the bats emitted very loud chirps
while waiting to exit the crevice.

Two pregnant females were obtained at Segunda
Usina, one with an embryo measuring 4 (20 September
1981), and the other with an embryo measuring 40 and
a forearm length of 23 (1 December 1980).

Means and ranges of selected measurements of
five adult male specimens from Cordoba, Calamuchita
Department, Segunda Usina, are: forearm length (79.40,
77.00-81.00); greatest length of skull (32.06, 31.65-
32.64); condylobasal length (31.14,30.73-31.56); least
interorbital breadth (5.69, 5.60-5.75); zygomatic
breadth (19.35, 18.82-19.79); breadth of braincase
(13.24, 12.95-13.60); length of maxillary toothrow
(12.68, 12.55-12.83); madibular toothrow (13.92,
13.56-14.22); and greatest length of mandible (23.67,
23.49-23,88).

Mo loss us mo loss us
(Pallas, 1766)

Specimens examined (2).— Cordoba Province:
Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto (UNRC 50, 154).

Additional records. — This species recently has
been reported in La Rioja Province by Vaccaro (1992).

Comments .— Both specimens of this species in
Cordoba were obtained in the city of Rio Cuarto. In
one case, a small group of about six individuals was
inside a ventilation shaft of an air conditioner outside a
room of a sixth floor apartment building (September
1986). The single specimen that could be captured was
a pregnant female. The other specimen was netted
among hundreds of Tadarida brasiliensis during pest
control activities at the Universidad Nacional de Rio
Cuarto campus.

TIRANTI AND TORRES— OBSERVATIONS ON BATS OF ARGENTINA

9

Selected measurements of an adult specimen from
Cordoba Province, Rio Cuarto Department, RioCuarto,
UniversidadNacional de Rio Cuarto campus, are: great¬
est length of skull (17.35), condylobasal length (16.17),
least interorbital breadth (4.13), zygomatic breadth
(11.10), breadth ofbraincase (9.60), length of maxil¬
lary' toothrow (6.32), mandibular toothrow (6.94) and
greatest length of mandible (12.12).

Tadarida brasiliensis
(I. Geoffrey, 1824)

Specimens examined (27).— Cordoba Province:
Rio Cuarto Department, Rio Cuarto (UNRC 155), Las
Higueras (UNRC 156), La Gilda (UNRC 157-158),
Coronel Baigorria, Estancia San Gonzalo headquarters
(TTU 64354-64356); Calamuchita Department,
Segunda Usina (UNRC 159); Cruz del Eje Department,
Palo Parado (TTU 64353). La Pampa Province: Capi¬
tal Department, Santa Rosa (TTU 64357-64361, UNRC
160-162); Toay Department, Parque Luro (RVP 237);
Lihuel Calel Department, Lihucl Calel National Park
(observed); Estancia Los Ranqueles (RVP 138); Limay
Mahuida Department, La Fefbrma (RVP 39); Loventue
Department, Victorica(Escuela Agro Ganadera) (from
owl pellet; RVP 238); Estancia La Elenita (RVP 144-
145); Chical Co Department, La Humada (RVP 14-16);
Rancul Department, Estancia Las Delicias (RVP 171);
Puelen Department, Puesto Los Pajaritos, 5km N (RVP
239).

Additional records. — Cordoba Province: Punflla
Department, Bialet Masse, La Cumbre; San Javier De¬
partment, Carrizal, Villa Dolores, (Barquez and Ojeda,
1992). La Pampa Province: Loventue Department,
Carro Quemado (De Santis and Justo 1978); Puelen
Department, Casa de Piedra (from owl pellet; Montalvo
etal. 1984).

Comments. — The Brazilian free-tailed bat is one
of the most common species we encountered Free-tailed
bats were found in abandoned and inhabited buildings
both in rural and urban settings. In Rio Cuarto, speci¬
mens of Molossus molossus occasionally were netted
with this species outside buildings.

In Segunda Usina, a specimen was obtained from
a crack in the face of a clitf. In La Pampa, this bat was
w idespread. Information from the RVP localities place
this species in a wide array of habitat situations. In
Puesto Los Pajaritos, one individual was found sharing
a crack in a boulder with a lizard ( Liolaemus
austromendocinus) in the slope of a barranca of sedi¬
mentary rocks. In Lihuel Calel National Park, a small-
colony of this species inhabited a crack on a small rock
face.

Pregnant females were obtained in Estancia La
Cautiva, Espinillo, Rio Cuarto Department, Cordoba,
(1 November 1983) with embryos ( crown rump 15),
and in Paso del Durazno (27 November 1981) with
embryos 25 and 27 and with forearm lengths of 13 and
14. Lactating females were obtained in Rio Cuarto on
21 December 1980, in Coronel Baigorria on 4 January
1991, and in Santa Rosa on 13 December 1990.

Means and ranges of selected measurements of
eight adult specimens (3 males, 5 females) from La
Pampa Province, Capital Department, Santa Rosa, are:
forearm length (44.10,43.00-45.70); greatest length of
skull (16.88,16.51-17.06); condylobasal length (16.03,
15.82-16.28); least interorbital breadth (4.06, 3.97-
4.19); zygomatic breadth (10.05, 9.84-10.29): breadth
ofbraincase (8.38, 8.15-8.58); length of maxillary
toothrow (6.09, 5.98-6.20); mandibular toothrow (6.72,
6.65-6.89); and greatest length of mandible (11.74,
11.57-11.91).

DISCUSSION

As Mares et al. (1995) have stated, information
on bats in Argentina is still scanty. Some species of
bats are known from some provinces by very few
records. For example, the presence of Eumops b.
bonariensis and Molossus molossus is confirmed for
Cordoba Province by one and two specimens, respec¬

tively, each species from a single locality. For Cordoba
Province, Flistiotus macrotus is known only from a
single record (Barquez and Ojeda 1992), and Molossus
ater , collected years ago, has not been found since
(Fomes and Massoia 1967).

10

OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

AH of the species mentioned in this report form
part of the widespread Chacoan fauna, in which most
of them are regarded as common or abundant (Barquez
and Ojeda 1992). Clearly, the Espinal allows for the
southward penetration of species linked to these scrub
forests. In La Pampa, Eptesicus furinalis and E.
diminutus , for example, appear to be restricted to areas

of Prosopis caldenia forests. Other species seem to
reach their southernmost limits in this province, as in
the case of Myotis levis dinellii. Nevertheless, it is
expected that species of Patagonian or Andean affini¬
ties, such as Myotis chiloensis or Lasiurus varius , could
be found eventually in western La Pampa.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

J. Polop (UNRC) and G. Siegenthaler (RVP) per¬
mitted the use of the collections in their charge. SIT’s
work in La Pampa Province benefited in many ways
from the actions, support and help received from N.
Durango, G. Siegenthaler, E. Fiorucci, P. Borraz, M.
Wrede and D. Albarracin, and was supported by the
Subsecretaria de Cultura, thus contributing to the ac¬
complishment of this report. In Cordoba, estancia ad¬
ministrators Angel and Daniel Iraneta (La Cautiva) are
especially thanked for their hospitality and for allow¬
ing us to work there. M. Aguirre, F. Biole, E. Bogado,
F. Lemme, R. Rossi, D. Torres, S. Torres and S. Tiranti
helped in the field. SIT’s stay at TTU is supported in
part by the Direccion Nacional de Cooperacion

International, Ministerio de Cultura y Education, Ar¬
gentina, and the Universidad Nacional de La Pampa,
Argentina. Localities Loma Loncovaca (Estancia Las
Delicias), Almacen El 52, La Humada, La Reforma,
Puesto Los Pajaritos and Estancias La Elenita,
Quitrahue, and Los Ranqueles, were sampled as part of
La Pampa Province Vertebrate Survey. M. A. Mares
(Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Depart¬
ment of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman,
Oklahoma) identified the Lasiurus salinae and some
specimens of L blossevillii. J. Juste and F. D. Yancey
are thanked for providing helpful comments for the im¬
provement of the manuscript.

LITERATURE CITED

Baker, R. J., J. C. Patton, H. H. Genoways, and J. W.
Bickham. 1988. Genic studies of Lasiurus
(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Occas. Papers
Mus., Texas Tech Univ. 117: 1-15.

Barquez, R. M. and R. A. Ojeda. 1992. The bats (Mam¬
malia: Chiroptera) of the Argentine Chaco.
Annals of Carnegie Museum 61(3): 239-26 L

Braun, J. K. and M. A. Mares. 1995. A new genus and
species of phyllotine rodent (Rodentia:
Muridae: Sigmodontinae: Phyllotini) from
South America. J. Mamtn. 76: 504-521.

Cabrera, A. L. 1976. Regiones fitogeograficas
argentinas. Enciclopedia Argentina de
Agricultura y Jardineria. Editorial ACME,.
Buenos Aires, Argentina. 85 pp.

Cano, E., B. Fernandez and M., Montes. 1980,
Vegetacion. In: E. Cano [Ed.]. Inventario
Integrado de los Recursos Naturales de la
Provincia de La Pampa (Clima, Geomorfologia
y Vegetacion). Jnstituto Nacional de Tecnologfa
Agropecuaria, Provincia de La Pampa and
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Institute
Salesiano de Artes Graficas, Buenos Aires,
Argentina. 493 pp.

Crespo, J. A., J. M. Vanella, B. D. Blood and J. M. De
Carlo. 1961. Observaciones ecologicas del
vampiro k ' Desmodas r. rotundas" (Geoffroy)
en el norte de Cordoba. Re vista del Museo
Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “B,
Rivadavia”; Zook, 6(4): 131-160.

TIRANTI AND TORRES— OBSERVATIONS ON BATS OF ARGENTINA

11

Crespo, J. A. 1974. Cornentarios sobre nuevas
localidades para marmferos de la Argentina y
de Bolivia. Rev. Mus. Arg. Ciencias Naturales
"B. Rivadavia”; Zool., 11(1): 1-3 L

De Santis, L. J. M and E. R. Justo. 1978. Observaciones
sobre algunos quiropteros de la provincia de
La Pampa. Neolropica 24(72): 161-163.

Fornes, A. and E. Massoia. 1967. Procedencias
argentinas nuevas o poco conocidas para
murcielagos (Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae,
Vespertilionidae y Molossidae). Segundas
Jomadas Entoepidemioiogicas Argentinas. I.
(1965): 133-145.

Mares, M. A., R. M. Barquez and J. K. Braun. 1995.
Distribution and ecology of some Argentine
bats (Mammalia). Annals ofCamegie Museum
64(3): 219-237.

Mares, M. A., R. M. Barquez, J. K. Braun and R. A.
Ojeda. 1996. Observations on the mammals of
Tucuman Province, Argentina. I. Systematics,
distribution, and ecology of the
Di del phi morphia, Xenarthra, Chiroptera, Pri¬
mates, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla,
and Lagomorpha. Annals ofCamegie Museum
65(2): 89-152.

McNab, B. K. 1973. Energetics and the distribution of
vampires. J. Mamm. 54: 131-144.

Montalvo, C. I., E. R. Justo and L. J. M. De Santis.
1984. Alimentation de Tvto alba (Strigi formes,
Tytonidae) en la Provincia de La Pampa. 11.
Neotropica 30(84): 250-252.

Montalvo, C, E. Justo and L. De Santis. 1988. Nota
sobre algunos mamiferos de la provincia de La
Pampa (Argentina). Univ. Nac. La Pampa Ser.
Suplem. No 4: 177-180.

Morales, J. C. and J. W. Bickham. 1995. Molecular
systematics ofthe genus Lasiurus (Chiroptera:
Vespertilionidae) based on restriction-site maps
of the mitochondrial ribosomal genes. J.
Mamm. 76: 730-749.

Polop, J. J. 1989. Distribution and ecological observa¬
tions of wild rodents in Pampa de Achala,
Cordoba, Argentina. Studies on Neotropical
Fauna and Environment 24: 53-59.

Siegenthaler, G., E. Fiorucci, S. Tiranti, P. Borraz, M,
Urioste and A. Garcia. 1990#. Informe de
avance del Plan de Relevamiento de los
Vertebrados de la Provincia de La Pampa. Agro
Pampeano, Ministerio de Asuntos Agrarios, 18:
38-48.

Siegenthaler, G., E. Fiorucci, S. Tiranti, P. Borraz, M.
Urioste, J. Gobbi and A. Garcia, 19906. Plan
de Relevamiento de los Vertebrados de la
Provincia de La Pampa. Agro Pampeano.
Ministerio de Asuntos Agrarios, 19: 5-11.

Thomas, O. 1902. On mammals collected at Cruz del
Eje, Central Cordoba. Annals and Magazine
of Natural History, ser. 7. 9: 237-245.

Tiranti, S. 1.1992. Barn owl prey in southern La Pampa,
Argentina. J. Raptor Res. 26(2): 89-92.

Vaccaro, O. B. 1992. Cornentarios sobre nuevas
localidades para quiropteros de Argentina
(Vespertilionidae y Molossidae) (Mammalia:
Chiroptera). Revista del Museo Argentino de
Ciencias Naturales “B. Rivadavia”. ZooL
16(3): 27-36.

12

OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

GAZETTEER

Localities are listed in alphabetical order. Numbers

correspond to numbered localities in Figure 1.

L Almacen El 52: Caleu Caleu Department: La
Pampa Province: Myotis levis dinellii.

2. Cachirulo: Toay Department: La Pampa Province:
Eptesicus furinalis.

3. Chacharramendi: Utracan Department: La Pampa
Province: Myotis levis dinellii.

4. Chancani, Estancia Aguas Blancas: Pocho Depart¬
ment: Cordoba Province: Desmodus rotundus ,
Eptesicus furinalis, Myotis levis dinellii.

5. Coronel Baigorria, Estancia San Gonzalo head¬
quarters: Rio Cuarto Department: Cordoba Prov¬
ince: Eptesicus furinalis, Lasiurus blossevillii
Myotis levis dinellii, Tadarida brasiliensis.

6. Espinillo, Estancia La Cautiva: Rio Cuarto De¬
partment: Cordoba Province: Desmodus rotundus,
Histiotus mantanus, Myotis levis dinellii.

I. Estancia Las Delicias: Rancul Department: La
Pampa Province: Tadarida brasiliensis,

8. Estancia Los Ranqueies : Li hue! Calel Department:
La Pampa Province: Myotis levis dinellii,
Tadarida brasiliensis.

9. Guatrache: Guatrache Department: La Pampa
Prov i nee: Eptes ic us furinalis ,

10. La Gilda: Rio Cuarto Department: Cordoba Prov¬
ince : Myotis levis dinellii , Tadarida brasiliensis.

II. Laguna Chillhue: Guatrache Department: La
Pampa Province: Lasiurus blossevillii.

12. La Huniada: Chical Co Department: La Pampa
Province: Tadarida brasiliensis.

13. La Reforma: Li may Mahuida Department: La
Pampa Province: Tadarida brasiliensis.

14. Las Higueras: Rio Cuarto Department: Cordoba
Province: Tadarida brasiliensis.

!5. Lihucl Calel National Park: Lihuel Calel Depart¬
ment: La Pampa Province: Tadarida brasiliensis.

16. Palo Parado: Cruz del Eje Department: Cordoba
Province: Myotis levis dinellii, Tadarida
brasiliensis.

17. Parque Luro: Toay Department: La Pampa Prov¬
ince: Eptesicus furinalis, Tadarida brasiliensis.

18. Paso del Durazno: Rio Cuarto Department:
Cordoba Province : Myotis levis dinellii.

19. Puesto Los Pajaritos, 5 km N: Puelen Department:
La Pampa Province: Tadarida brasiliensis.

20. Rio Cuarto: Rio Cuarto Department: Cordoba
Province: Lasiurus blossevillii, Lasiurus cinereus,
Lasiurus ega, Mo loss us molossus, Tadarida
brasiliensis.

21. Salinas Grandes de Hidalgo, N border: Atreuco
Department: La Pampa Province: Lasiurus
salinae.

22. Santa Rosa: Capital Department: La Pampa Prov¬
ince: Eptesicus furinalis, Tadarida brasiliensis.

23. Santa Rosa, 10 km E, Estancia Don Hipolito:
Capital Department: La Pampa Province:
Eptesicus furinalis, Lasiurus blossevillii.

24. Santa Rosa, ca. 30 km W, Estancia Quitrahue:
Toay Department: La Pampa Province: Lasiurus
cinereus.

25. Segunda Usina: Calamuchita Department:
Cordoba Province: Desmodus rotundus, Histiotus
montanus, Lasiurus blossevillii , Lasiurus
cinereus, Myotis levis dinellii, Eumops
bonariensis bonariensis, Eumops perotis,
Tadarida brasiliensis.

26. Victorica (Escuela Agro Ganadera): Loventue De¬
partment: La Pampa Province: Eptesicus
diminutus, Tadarida brasiliensis.

21. Victorica, 30 km W, Estancia La Elenita: Loventue
Department: La Pampa Province: Eptesicus
furinalis, Tadarida brasiliensis.

TIRANTI AND TORRES— OBSERVATIONS ON BATS OF ARGENTINA

13

Addresses of Authors

SERGIO I. TIRANTI PAZ

Department of Biological Sciences,

Texas Tech University,

Lubbock, TX 79409-3131 and
Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales,
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa,
Uruguay 151, 6300 Santa Rosa, La Pampa
Argentina

MARCOS P. TORRES MARTINEZ

Departamento de Ciencias Naturales,
Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto,

5800 Rio Cuarto, Cordoba,

Argentina

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