Abstract

The Neotropical bat genus Lophostoma (Phyllostomidae: Phyllostominae) currently includes seven species. Two taxa, Lo-phostoma aequatorialis and Lophostoma silvicolum occidentalis, occur west of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. In the de-scription of L.aequatorialis, these two taxa were compared solely on the basis of morphology because DNA sequencedata could not be obtained from the type series of L. s. occidentalis. Here, comparisons are based on molecular data andextensive morphological comparisons. The congruence between the morphological and molecular variation in our analy-ses support the recognition of L. occidentalis as a valid species and the consideration of L. aequatorialis as a junior syn-onym of L. occidentalis. Phylogenetic analysis of Lophostoma based on cytochrome-b sequences indicates that L.occidentalis is closely related to L. schulzi. L. occidentalis can be recognized by its white to pale post-auricular patches;dorsal side of the forearm naked; well-developed lateral projection of mastoid process; wide basioccipital; shallow basis-phenoid pits weakly separated by a septum; P3 and P4 distal accessory cusp present; M1 ectocingulum strongly devel-oped; M1 mesostyle absent; M1 mesostylar crest present; M1 anterior ectoflexus deep and posterior ectoflexus shallow;M1 lingual cingulum present; M2 mesostyle absent; and M2 mesostylar crest present.