1860. Stenoderma toltecus Saussure, Revue et Mag. Zool., Paris, ser. 2, 12:427, October, type from México. Type locality restricted to Mirador, Veracruz, by Hershkovitz, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 99:449, May 10, 1949.
1908. Artibeus toltecus, Andersen, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 296, April 7.
Distribution in Tamaulipas.—Probably lowlands of southern part of state; known presently only from Rancho Pano Ayuctle.
Artibeus toltecus is closely related to another species, A. aztecus, that occurs also in Tamaulipas. Externally, toltecus differs from aztecus in being smaller and darker; cranially, toltecus also is the smaller and the P2 and M2 are more angular lingually than in aztecus, in which the teeth are rounded. One of the most important differences between these two species is that they occur at different altitudes. Davis (1958:165) reported that toltecus occurred at elevations below 5000 feet at more southerly localities in México, whereas aztecus occurred above 5000 feet. In Tamaulipas the two species probably have parallel distributions from south to north but A. toltecus is known from Rancho Pano Ayuctle at an elevation of 300 feet in rain forest, whereas A. aztecus is known from Rancho del Cielo at an elevation of 3300 feet in cloud forest. The two localities are only four miles apart.
One of the specimens examined (GMS 10640) is smaller, cranially and externally (see beyond), than any recorded by Davis (1958:165).
Measurements.—Some external and cranial measurements of two females and a male (GMS 10668, 10646 and 10640) are, respectively, as follows: length of hind foot, 12.5, 12.0, 11.0; length of ear from notch, 15, 17, 15; length of forearm, 40.5, 40.0, 36.5; greatest length of skull, 20.9, 20.7, 19.7; zygomatic breadth, 12.3, 12.3, 11.7; least interorbital constriction, 5.2, 5.0, 5.0; length of maxillary tooth-row, 6.8, 6.8, 6.5; breadth of braincase, 9.3, 9.2, 9.1.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 3 from Río Sabinas, near Gómez Farías (Rancho Pano Ayuctle) (GMS).
Artibeus aztecus Andersen
Aztec Fruit-eating Bat
1906. Artibeus aztecus Andersen, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, 18:422, December, type from Tetela del Volcán, Morelos.
Distribution in Tamaulipas.—Probably higher areas of southern part of state; known presently only from Rancho del Cielo.