Resumo

LINARES, ÉDGAR L.  e  MORENO-MOSQUERA, EYDA A.. Morphology of Crecopia (Crecopiaceae) fruitlets of the Colombian Pacific and its taxonomic value in the bats diets study. Caldasia [online]. 2010, vol.32, n.2, pp.275-287. ISSN 0366-5232.

The texture, along with the shape and form of fruitlets (not always easily interpreted by the naked eye), are important diagnostic characters in the species recognition of the studied Crecopia from the Colombian Pacific. The texture of the surface is the most important character because it allows us to recognize two distinct species groups: one group consists of species with smooth surface and includes Cecropia bullata, C. membranacea, C. longipes and C. obtusifolia; the other group includes the remaining species (C. angustifolia, C. hispidissima, C. insignis, C. peltata, C. reticulate and C. virgusa) with tuberculate or pustulate surface. The latter groups can be further divided into three subgroups: species with weakly pustulate surface (C. reticulata, C. virgusa), species with distinct pustulate surface (C. hispidissima, C. insignis and C. peltata) and species with tuberculate surface (C. angustifolia). The shape and color are less important than the texture. Based on the shape, fruitlets can be organized in ovoid (Cecropia insignis, C. reticulata), ovoid-lanceolate (C. angustifolia, C. bullata and C. virgusa), broadly ovoid (C. longipes, C. obtusifolia), ellipsoid (C. peltata), broadly ellipsoid (C. membranacea) and globular (C. hispidissima). The color of fruitlets is rather constant as indicated by the similar colors found in the voucher specimens of the Herbario Nacional Colombiano (COL) and those from stomach contents of bats. Reddish brown tones (light to dark reddish brown) are predominant; black with a central red was present in one species (C. obtusifolia). The Cecropia species and associated bats were: Cecropia angustifolia (consumed by Artibeus jamaicensis), Cecropia peltata (found in the stomach contents and feces of Artibeus jamaicensis, Carollia castanea and Carollia perspicillata), Cecropia membranacea (consumed by Artibeus lituratus, Platyrrhinus helleri, Carollia castanea and Artibeus jamaicensis) and Cecropia obtusifolia (found in the stomach contents and feces of Artibeus watsoni Artibeus lituratus, Urodema bilobatum, Chiroderma trinitratum, Platyrrhinus helleri, Carollia castanea and Carollia perspicillata). The use of Cecropia angustifolia by Artibeus jamaicensis is reported for the first time.

Palavras-chave : Cecropia; fruitlets; morfological description; Chocoan Pacific; bats.

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