Leucism in five species of bats from Mexico

Abstract

Leucism is a partial hypopigmentary congenital disorder previously recorded in Mexico in seven bat specimens of six species: one Artibeus phaeotis ; two A. jamaicensis; one A. watsoni ; one Carollia sowelli , one Glossophaga soricina , and one Tadarida brasiliensis. In August 2009 in the state of Hidalgo, we caught one Sturnira ludovici and one Artibeus lituratus (both females) exhibiting leucism.  In addition, one leucistic Macrotus waterhousii was caught in April 2010 in Guerrero.  Leucism has been infrequently reported and may be more common than suggested by published results.  In order to evaluate this supposition, we checked the mammals collection of Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas (Instituto Politecnico Nacional) to look for other evidences of leucism in bats.  We found six more specimens, three Artibeus jamaicensis and three Tadarida brasiliensis (collected in different years in the states of Aguascalientes, Hidalgo, and Puebla) that manifested leucism.  These specimens raise to 15 the records of bats of nine species with leucism in Mexico.