The Bat Name Myotis ruddi Silliman and von Bloeker, a Synonym of Myotis volans longicrus (True)

Abstract

The 0. P. Silliman collection of mammals came to the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology as a gift from Mr. Robert L. Rudd. Most of the specimens were collected and prepared by J. C. von Bloeker and R. L. Rudd. Identifications on the labels are in the handwriting of von Bloeker. Recently, while arranging the collection for cataloging, I examined the specimens upon which the name Myotis ruddi Silliman and von Bloeker (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 51: 167, 1938) was based. All these, except two already in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology collection, were present in the Silliman collection and with the name Myotis ruddi on the labels. I found that these specimens actually included four species, and that Myotis ruddi is a synonym of Myotis volans longicrus (True). Errors in the technique of labelling and preparing skulls and in identification were evident. All specimens assigned to ruddi were melanistic or nearly so. Six, including the type, are M. volans longicrus, one is Myotis yumanensis saturatus, two are skins of Myotis lucifugus alascensis of which one is accompanied by a skull of Myotis yumanensis and the other by a skull of Myotis californicus. The specimens originally in the Silliman collection were from Monterey County, California. The describers also included one in the collection of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology from San Benito County, California. Taking the specimens in the order listed in the original description the specimen numbers are now as follows: Lake Espinosa, 50 feet elevation, Salinas Valley, Monterey County: orig. no. 6895, J. C. von Bloeker; 87, 0. P. Silliman; 107900, Mus. Vert. Zool. This specimen is represented by the skin of an immature Myotis lucifugus alascensis. It agrees with other skins of this species from the same locality except that it is slightly darker than the darkest (also an immature) of the other specimens. This series of sixteen specimens exhibits a considerable amount of variation in color. The paler specimens had been labeled Myotis yumanensis sociabilis and the darker ones, except for the one referred to ruddi, correctly assigned to Myotis lucifugus alascensis. The skull accompanying this skin represents an adult Myotis californicus. Fading of the writing on the original skull label may have been the cause for the error since the original label shows that the original number had been retraced, mistakenly, after the skull and label had gone through the cleaning process. It is also evident that some error had been made in recording measurement data on the skin label for some of the measurements had been written over and now are larger than those recorded in the field catalogue of the collector. Chews Ridge, 5000 feet elevation, Santa Lucia Mountains, Monterey County: orig. no. 6457, J. C. von Bloeker; 88, 0. P. Silliman; 107893, Mus. Vert. Zool. This specimen includes a skin of an immature Myotis lucifugus alascensis which had been badly damaged when the bat was shot. The skull associated with the skin is that of an adult Myotis yumanensis. Complete evidence that it is not to be correctly associated with the skin is that the skull is perfect and undamaged 48 Vol.30, No. 1