Abstract

The taxonomic status of Artibeus jamaicensis triomylus was evaluated by mitochondrial cytochrome-b sequences, as well as cranial morphometric comparisons with 4 other subspecies of the A. jamaicensis complex and 5 species of large Artibeus. Phylogenetic analyses showed that 2 monophyletic groups exist within A. jamaicensis complex, separated by a sequence divergence of 3.6%. One clade grouped samples of A. j. triomylus from western Mexico, and the other contained samples of A. j. yucatanicus, A. j. richardsoni, A. j. paulus, and A. j. jamaicensis from the Gulf of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Additionally, multivariate analyses revealed a significant divergence in quantitative cranial characters between A. j. triomylus and non-triomylus specimens. These results, in conjunction with morphological data previously reported, suggest that A. j. triomylus represents a distinct and monophyletic lineage, consequently deserving recognition at the species rank.

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