About the Book
'An interesting and enjoyable read...Rich detail presented in well-written, logical fashion about the bat fauna of this interesting island' - ""Acta Chiropterologica"". The Caribbean islands are home to some of the most unusual species of bats. A number of them are endemic, living in no other region of the world. On Puerto Rico alone, thirteen different species have been found. Bats are the only naturally occurring mammals there; all others were introduced after settlement of the island first by the Tano Indians and later by the Spanish. Puerto Rico is important for study because of its human history, tropical climate, size, relief, and isolation from the mainland. Thus, it is a useful model for understanding how historical, geographic, and environmental factors interact in a controlled environment to affect the diversity and complexity of its resident species. This volume is the first complete compilation of the distribution, natural history, taxonomy, and ecology of the bats of Puerto Rico. The coauthors, all experienced researchers, introduce the book with a discussion of Puerto Rican ecosystems and an overview of facts and misconceptions about bats in general. The main text then provides detailed descriptions of each of the thirteen Puerto Rican species, as well as illustrations of their faces and skulls. The book concludes with keys to the characters of these bats and a complete glossary. Maps show the distribution of each species on the island. ""Bats of Puerto Rico"" is designed to be an easily used source of information for the general public as well as a complete descriptive record for ecologists, mammalogists, and wildlife biologists.
Table of Contents:
Geography Geological History Temperature and Rainfall Hurricanes Forest Types and Life Zones The Human Influence An Overview of Puerto Rican Mammals Island Biology Community Ecology within the Caribbean Basin Structure of a Bat Seeing With Sound Nocturnal Behavior Shelter and Insulation Food, Guano, Ecology, and the Economy Bats and Pre-Columbian Residents of Puerto Rico Vampire Bats and the Vampire Myth Bats and Public Health Eliminating Bats from Buildings Noctilionidae, Bulldog or Fishing Bats Noctilio leporinus, Greater Bulldog Bat Mormoopidae, Mustached or Ghost-faced Bats Mormoops blainvillii, Antillean Ghost-faced Bat Pteronotus parnellii, Parnell's Mustached Bat Pteronotus quadridens, Sooty Mustached Bat Phyllostomidae, American Leaf-nosed Bats Artibeus jamaicensis, Jamaican Fruit Bat Brachphylla cavernarum, Antillean Fruit Bat Erophylla sezekorni, Brown Flower Bat Monophyllus redmani, Greater Antillean Long-tongued Bat Stenoderma rufum, Red Fig-eating Bat Vespertilionidae, Plain-nosed or Vesper Bats Eptesicus fuscus, Big Brown Bat Lasiurus borealis, Red Bat Molossidae, Free-tailed Bats Molossus molossus, Velvety Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis, Brazilian Free-tailed Bat Threats to BatsGeography Geological History Temperature and Rainfall Hurricanes Forest Types and Life Zones The Human Influence An Overview of Puerto Rican Mammals Island Biology Community Ecology within the Caribbean Basin Structure of a Bat Seeing With Sound Nocturnal Behavior Shelter and Insulation Food, Guano, Ecology, and the Economy Bats and Pre-Columbian Residents of Puerto Rico Vampire Bats and the Vampire Myth Bats and Public Health Eliminating Bats from Buildings Noctilionidae, Bulldog or Fishing Bats Noctilio leporinus, Greater Bulldog Bat Mormoopidae, Mustached or Ghost-faced Bats Mormoops blainvillii, Antillean Ghost-faced Bat Pteronotus parnellii, Parnell's Mustached Bat Pteronotus quadridens, Sooty Mustached Bat Phyllostomidae, American Leaf-nosed Bats Artibeus jamaicensis, Jamaican Fruit Bat Brachphylla cavernarum, Antillean Fruit Bat Erophylla sezekorni, Brown Flower Bat Monophyllus redmani, Greater Antillean Long-tongued Bat Stenoderma rufum, Red Fig-eating Bat Vespertilionidae, Plain-nosed or Vesper Bats Eptesicus fuscus, Big Brown Bat Lasiurus borealis, Red Bat Molossidae, Free-tailed Bats Molossus molossus, Velvety Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis, Brazilian Free-tailed Bat Threats to Bats Why Protect Bats? Recommendations Resources Key to Adult Bats Using External Characters Key to Adult Bats Using Cranial and Dental Characters
