About Sturnira parvidens Goldman, 1917
Taxon Identification
Sturnira parvidens Goldman, 1917 is a medium-sized bat.
Body Size Measurements
It has a head-body length of 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in), a weight of 12–19 g (0.42–0.67 oz), and an average forearm length of approximately 41 mm (1.6 in).
Head Structure
It has a short, broad head with large eyes and relatively short, rounded ears.
Nose and Mouth Features
Its nose-leaf is comparatively small, with an oval to lanceolate tip. A central pad sits on its lower lip, surrounded by a semi-circular row of wart-like structures.
Wing and Tail Morphology
The main wing membrane extends down to the bat's ankles; it has no tail, and only a vestigial tail membrane.
Wing Parameters and Dentition
Its wings have an aspect ratio of 6 and a wing loading of 12 kg/m², and it has small teeth.
General Fur Coloration
Its fur is thick and soft, and may be dark grey, though it is more commonly reddish or yellowish.
Male Shoulder Marking
Males have a distinct yellow patch over the shoulders.
Dorsal Fur Pattern
The fur on its back is dark brown, with individual hairs bearing three or four color bands.
Ventral and Facial Fur
Its belly fur is paler, with tricolored hairs, and its face is brownish-gray.
Geographic Distribution
Sturnira parvidens ranges from Sonora in northwest Mexico and Tamaulipas in northeast Mexico, along both the eastern and western coastal slopes of central Mexico, through all of southern Mexico and Central America, reaching as far south as northern Costa Rica.
Habitat and Elevation
Across this range, it lives in a wide variety of forest types, at elevations up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level.
Subspecies Status
No geographic subspecies are currently recognized for this species.
