Eptesicus fuscus miradorensis (H. Allen)
Big Brown Bat
1866. S[cotophilus]. miradorensis H. Allen, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18:287, type from Mirador, Veracruz.
1812. Eptesicus fuscus miradorensis, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 79:62, December 31.
Distribution in Tamaulipas.—Southern part of state, north at least to Miquihuana.
Specimens from Miquihuana, Palmillas, and Nicolás were shot in flight at dusk; those from the Sierra de Tamaulipas were collected in a mist net. Five females, all taken in June, were lactating.
Judging from Hall and Kelson's (1959:185) distribution map for the species, two subspecies, E. f. fuscus and E. f. miradorensis, possibly occur in Tamaulipas, the former in the north and the latter in the south. Comparison of specimens presently available from the state (all from the southern part) with typical individuals of the two subspecies mentioned reveal that they resemble miradorensis to a greater degree than fuscus and they accordingly are assigned to the former. In measurements, the Tamaulipan specimens agree closely with miradorensis; in color, some resemble miradorensis but others approach fuscus, possibly indicating intergradation between the two subspecies in the material at hand. Probably E. f. fuscus will be found in the northern part of the state.
Measurements.—Average and extreme measurements of nine females from the Sierra de Tamaulipas and three males, two from Miquihuana (55137, 55138) and one from Palmillas (55139), are respectively: 121.3 (111-127), 115, 107, 115; 51.9 (50-56), 50, 45, 52; 10.9 (9.5-11.0), 10, 10, 11; 17.8 (17-18), 18, 18, 18; length of forearm, 49.6 (48-52.6), 48.9, 49.1, 49.1; length of tibia, 18.8 (18.2-19.3), 20.5, 17.3, 18.0; condylobasal length, 18.9 (18.5-19.3), 19.3, —, 18.8; zygomatic breadth, 13.1 (12.7-13.5), —, 13.0, 13.3; interorbital constriction, 4.2 (3.7-4.4), 4.0, 4.3, 4.1; length of maxillary tooth-row, 7.3 (7.1-7.5), —, 7.2, 7.2. Five lactating females weighed 20 (17-23) grams, and three males 17.5 (17-8) grams.
Records of occurrence.—Specimens examined, 17: Miquihuana, 6200 ft., 2; 14 mi. N, 6 mi. W Palmillas, 5500 ft., 1; Nicolás, 56 km. NW Tula, 5500 ft., 1; Sierra de Tamaulipas, 2 mi. S, 10 mi. W Piedra, 1200 ft., 12; Joya Verde, 35 km. SW [Cd.] Victoria, 3800 ft., 1.
Additional record: Aserradero del Paraiso (Goodwin, 1954:186).