Comparisons.—From Lasiurus intermedius intermedius of the adjacent mainland of México, L. i. insularis differs as follows: Larger, both externally and cranially; sagittal crest relatively higher, especially posteriorly; interorbital region relatively narrower; palate longer posterior to tooth-rows; teeth distinctly larger throughout except M3, which is relatively (frequently actually) narrower, averaging 66.1 (62.5-71.0) per cent width of M2 in insularis rather than 74.1 (66.6-79.3) per cent in 10 intermedius from Brownsville, Texas; mesostyle of M1 and M2 relatively smaller as are second commissure and cingulum of M3; coloration of No. 254714 USNM resembling that of L. i. intermedius, but coloration of three specimens, preserved in alcohol, averaging somewhat darker (more reddish-brown) than in intermedius.
Fig. 2. Geographic distribution of the three subspecies of Lasiurus intermedius.
| 1. L. i. floridanus | 2. L. i. intermedius | 3. L. i. insularis |
Black dots represent localities of capture of specimens examined. Hollow circles represent localities of capture of other specimens recorded in the literature but not examined by us (Hall and Jones).
From Lasiurus intermedius floridanus of the adjacent Floridan mainland, L. i. insularis differs in many of the same ways that it differs from L. i. intermedius, except that the differences are even more trenchant because floridanus is smaller than intermedius. Indeed, the difference in size between floridanus and insularis is approximately the same as between Lasiurus borealis and Lasiurus cinereus.
Measurements.—External measurements (all taken from specimens preserved in alcohol) of the holotype, followed by those of two other females, one from Laguna La Deseada, San Cristóbal, Pinar del Río Province, and the other from Bayate, Guantánamo, Oriente Province, are, respectively: Total length, 164, 161, 150; length of tail-vertebrae, 68, 76, 77; length of hind foot, 12, 12, 13; length of ear from notch, 20, 17, 19; length of forearm, 61.2, 62.6, 61.8. The length of forearm of a study skin from San Germán (that otherwise lacks external measurements) having wings spread is approximately 55.4. For cranial measurements see Table 1.
Remarks.—Four of the five specimens on which the name L. i. insularis is based differ to such a degree from mainland populations of the species L. intermedius that specific rather than subspecific recognition for the Cuban bat might seem warranted. It is because of the fifth specimen (USNM 254714) that we accord subspecific rank to insularis. It is smaller than the other Cuban specimens and except for longer condylocanine length, longer mandibular tooth-rows, narrower interorbital region, and heavier dentition is indistinguishable in measurements from the largest specimens of L. i. intermedius from the mainland. In addition, it appears not to have the enormously developed sagittal crest of the other specimens of insularis although posteriorly the dorsal part of the skull (where the crest is most prominent) is missing. USNM 254714 agrees with the other Cuban specimens in having the mesostyle of M1 and M2 somewhat reduced and in having a small M3 on which the cingulum and second commissure are poorly developed, and this specimen is regarded as representative of the lower size limits of the Cuban population.
The skull from San Bias was found in an owl pellet (see de Beaufort, 1934:316).
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 5, all from Cuba, as follows: Pinar del Río Prov.: Laguna La Deseada, San Cristóbal, 1 (Poey Museum). Las Villas Prov.: Cienfuegos, 1 (KU, the holotype). Camaguey Prov.: San Bias, 1 (Amsterdam Zoological Museum). Oriente Prov.: San Germán, 1 (USNM); Bayate, Guantánamo, 1 (Ramsdem Museum, Univ. Oriente).