Discussion
Mata de Plátano Field Station and Nature Reserve (MPFS) is best known for its bat-snake interactions, yet no faunal surveys for either of these groups have been published. Our study shows that while small (~5100 m2), this reserve has a rich herpetofauna and bat fauna representative of the overall diversity of the island. This rapid inventory provides the first local, taxonomic-focused checklist for these species in north-central Puerto Rico.
In our 10-day rapid inventory, we found a total of 14 species of reptiles and amphibians. We documented four amphibians, seven lizards, and three snakes, totaling up to ~22% (4 out of 18) and ~14% (10 out of 72) of the amphibians and squamate diversity on Puerto Rico. Our observations in during field work also provide important natural history information. We documented A. cristatellus  copulating on the field station walls, which is not surprising as this species is often found in man-made structures throughout the island and is abundant in urban areas. Additionally, we documented two morphs of A. cristatellus : 1) light grey/tan (with or without darker mottling), and 2) a morph that is dark or light brown with a light yellow or cream colored mid-dorsal stripe and light-colored dorsal and lateral flecks. The dorsum of the first morph sometimes has dark gray or black spots running down the spine but are not nearly as distinct or as large as the saddle-shaped botched of A. stratulus(Fig. 6). The dorsal crest and tail fin in both morphs is sometimes prominent, while other observations the cutest was hardly distinct from the rest of the body. We also report notes on the endemic Chilabothrus inornatus . This species is known for consumption of bats on the island, and many individuals aggregate at the entrance and inside caves to opportunistically catch them. We saw one adult individual attack and devour a ghost faced bat (Mormoops blainvillei ). In our night surveys, we observed juvenile C. inornatus  snakes (N = 3) at the entrance of Cueva de los Culebrones, which suggests an actively breeding population of this endemic snake. We also found three live (and an additional two separate skeletons) C. inornatus  inside the cave, at 17.6 m and ~20 m depth. The latter of these two depths is the thermocline of the cave (~35° C), where we found two live C. inornatus . Individuals found deeper in the cave range from light grey to dark, charcoal grey (Fig. 5G). Compared to the ambient temperature (average: 24.4–31.1° F), the endemic Puerto Rican Boas tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
During this rapid inventory we observed nine species of bat, all of which were documented in a single 1.75-hour period of mist netting. This bat diversity represents 70% (i.e. 9 of 13) of the living alpha diversity present on the island of Puerto Rico. Most of the bats we observed are residents of MPFS. While our sampling efforts do not permit a more thorough examination of species abundance or comparisons with other reserves in the island, these data highlight the importance of MPFS as a local center of bat diversity. The moist forest area where MPFS is located is adjacent to pastures, unprotected rustic forest areas, and the urbanized center of the municipality of Arecibo to the north. However, more importantly, the station connects with the larger Río Abajo State Forest to the south. Together these two protected areas form a hub in the northcentral part of Puerto Rico extending from coastal to mountainous areas and linking multiple forested corridors that connect with reserves along the Karst Conservation Zone (Calderón-Acevedo et al., 2001).
Two endemic bat species documented in this rapid survey are of particular importance. The endemic Puerto Rican moustached bat (Pteronotus portoricensis ) specifically roosts in hot cave chambers where temperatures often exceed 35°C, such as those present in Cueva de los Culebrones (Rodríguez-Durán and Soto-Centeno, 2003). Previous studies show that the population this species at Cueva de los Culebrones was not affected by hurricanes (Jones et al., 2001). Nonetheless, P. portoricensis seems to be a new resident to the cave, and thus effects of natural phenomena on this species at this locality are not well known. A single individual of another endemic, the red fig-eating bat (Stenoderma rufum ), was captured during our survey. This endemic frugivorous bat is known to roost in the thick foliage of trees and occurs in low abundance throughout the island (Genoways 2023; Calderón-Acevedo et al., 2021). Given these characteristics, S. rufum is a species particularly affected by strong hurricanes (Gannon and Willig 1994), which can decrease the structural habitat connectivity through the island. The protection of MPFS in the wider northcentral habitat connectivity hub of Puerto Rico (Calderón-Acevedo et al., 2021), may be key for the recovery and population connectivity of this rare bat.