| Banana bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Genus: | Musonycteris Schaldach & McLaughlin, 1960 |
| Species: | M. harrisoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Musonycteris harrisoni Schaldach & McLaughlin, 1960 | |
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The banana bat (Musonycteris harrisoni) is an endangered species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is also commonly known as the trumpet-nosed bat [2] or the Colima long-nosed bat. [3]
M. harrisoni is a medium-sized bat ( 12.6g males, 10.9g females) with an extremely long rostrum, small rounded ears, and a short tail. [2] Due to the size of the rostrum this bat also has a long skull. [2] The rostrum makes up approximately half the length of the skull. [2] The common coloring of this bat is grayish brown. [2] The base of each individual hair is white with a brown tip. [2]
This species was first discovered in a banana grove. (Gardner, 1977) Musonycteris harrisoni is endemic to Mexico. The main distribution within Mexico is in the states of Colima, Michoacán, and Guerrero. [4] This bat is one of the phyllostomid bats with the smallest range, covering only approximately 20,000 km2. [4] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss. The maximum recorded altitude for the species is over 1,700 m. [2]
Musonycteris harrisoni is monotypic within the genus Musonycteris.[ citation needed ]
This bat is also a neotropical nectar-feeding bat (Phyllostomidae: Glossophaginae). [4] Neotropical nectar-feeding bats comprise approximately 40 species that differ widely in their dependence on a diet of nectar. [4]
M. harrisoni can be grouped into two clades. [5] These clades are divided by region. [5] There are individuals from the northern or southern portion of the species' range. [5] These clades have a 41% genetic variance. [5] The northern clade is restricted by the Sierra Madre mountain range along the Pacific coast of Mexico. [5]
Banana bats are nectarivores. This bat consumes both forest and cultivated plant species in its diet. [4] The main plant diet of the banana bat consists of Cleome, Pseudobombax, Crataeva, Agave, Helicteres, and Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum - however they have been seen visiting other types of plants as well. [4] Even with the long rostrum that Musonycteris harrisoni has they have no tight relationships with long-tubed flowers that usually require a long rostrum. [4] The pollen collected on the hair of M. harrisoni when feeding is usually eaten as one of the only reliable nitrogen sources for the bat. [6] Many other nectarivores shift their main diet from nectar to fruits or insects for part of the year however M. harrisoni is unable to do this due to their long jaws. (Gardner 1977) Their jaw size restricts them to a liquid food source for leverage reasons. [7]
Based on 84 pollen findings, M. harrisoni visited at least 14 pollen-producing plant species during an annual cycle. Additionally, these bats were using the cultivated bananas (Musa) that did not produce any pollen. [4]
In one study, eight lactating females were caught in the dry season between mid-March and mid-April. Females caught between July and September showed no signs of advanced pregnancy or lactation, so M. harrisoni seems to reproduce during the dry season and only once a year. Recaptures of study animals were always less than 1 km apart; most were within 100 m of the initial capture. [4]
In spite of an obviously variable floral resource environment, M. harrisoni was a year-round resident in the study area, which might be also related to its body size. Migrations following regional nectar availability (Fleming et al. 1993) [8] are known so far only from larger glossophagine species such as Leptonycteris, Choeronycteris mexicana , and to a lesser extent, Anoura geoffroyi [9] [10] [11]
Since Musonycteris harrisoni feeds on nectar it has developed some special adaptations. One example of this is that the scales on their hairs spread out at an angle to the main shaft. [6] This is unique because the hairs of most bats are relatively smooth. These scales allow for a heavier coat of pollen. [6] The collected pollen is useful as a source of nitrogen, however it is also used to pollinate plants. M. harrisoni serves as a pollinator for C. grandiflora. [3]
Another adaptation for nectar feeding is that these bats have a specialized hovering flight to feed on flowers. [4] They also have a long tongue which can be up to two-thirds of their body length. [4] This tongue length allows for maximum nectar extracting power. [4] The tongue of one individual measured 76 mm from the ‘‘gape of the jaw to the outstretched tip’’. [2]
The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are found from southern North America to South America, specifically from the Southwest United States to northern Argentina. They are ecologically the most varied and diverse family within the order Chiroptera. Most species are insectivorous, but the phyllostomid bats include within their number true predatory species and frugivores. For example, the spectral bat, the largest bat in the Americas, eats vertebrate prey, including small, dove-sized birds. Members of this family have evolved to use food groups such as fruit, nectar, pollen, insects, frogs, other bats, and small vertebrates, and in the case of the vampire bats, even blood.
The lesser long-nosed bat is a medium-sized bat found in Central and North America. It is sometimes known as Sanborn's long-nosed bat or the Mexican long-nosed bat, though the latter name is better avoided since it is also used for the entire genus Leptonycteris and for one of the other species in it, the greater long-nosed bat.
Zoophily, or zoogamy, is a form of pollination whereby pollen is transferred by animals, usually by invertebrates but in some cases vertebrates, particularly birds and bats, but also by other animals. Zoophilous species frequently have evolved mechanisms to make themselves more appealing to the particular type of pollinator, e.g. brightly colored or scented flowers, nectar, and appealing shapes and patterns. These plant-animal relationships are often mutually beneficial because of the food source provided in exchange for pollination.
Geoffroy's tailless bat is a species of phyllostomid bat from the American tropics.
The dark long-tongued bat is a species of bat from South and Central America. It was formerly considered the only species within the genus Lichonycteris, but is now recognized as one of two species in that genus, along with the pale brown long-nosed bat. It is small species of bat, with adults weighing 6–11 g (0.21–0.39 oz) and having a total length of 46–63 mm (1.8–2.5 in).
The little big-eared bat is a bat species in the order Chiroptera and family Phyllostomidae. It is from South and Central America particularly Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Suriname and Trinidad. Though its exact population is unknown, it is considered widespread and occurs in protected areas, although deforestation may be a minor threat, it is classified as Least Concern. It is found in multistratal evergreen forests and dry thorn forests and forages near streams and is found hollow trees, logs, caverns, or houses with groups up to twelve. The head and body length measures at 44 millimetres (1.7 in) for males and 45 millimetres (1.8 in) for females. Males usually weigh about 5 grams (0.18 oz) while females weigh 5.7 grams (0.20 oz).
The tent-making bat is an American leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae) found in lowland forests of Central and South America. This medium-sized bat has a gray coat with a pale white stripe running down the middle of the back. Its face is characterized by a fleshy noseleaf and four white stripes. Primarily a frugivore, it may supplement its diet with insects, flower parts, pollen, and nectar. Its common name comes from its curious behavior of constructing tents out of large, fan-shaped leaves. These roosts provide excellent protection from the tropical rains, and a single tent roost may house several bats at once. This bat is quite common in its geographic range; hence, its conservation status is listed as Least Concern.
The tube-lipped nectar bat is a bat from Ecuador. It was described in 2005. It has a remarkably long tongue, which it uses to drink nectar. It additionally consumes pollen and insects.
Anoura is a genus of leaf-nosed bats from Central and South America. Anoura members lack or have a short tail, and are nectarivorous bats of small to medium size among the Phyllostomidae.
The Mexican long-tongued bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus Choeronycteris. The species is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States.
Underwood's long-tongued bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus Hylonycteris. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Hylonycteris underwoodi feed on nectar, pollen grains, agave and fruits. This choice of food has allowed them to gain the ability of hovering flight, thereby evolving their body mass and size to compensate for the same.
The southern long-nosed bat is a South American species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae.
The greater long-nosed bat or Mexican long-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States. It chiefly consumes pollen and nectar, particularly from agave plants and cacti. Its habitat includes desert scrub and open woodlands. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The orange nectar bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Leach's single leaf bat, also known as Greater Antillean long-tongued bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in the southern Bahamas and in all the Greater Antilles. It forms large colonies, with up to a few hundred thousand individuals, and feeds on a relatively wide variety of food items including pollen, nectar, fruit and insects.
The Cuban flower bat, also called Poey's flower bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found on the Caribbean islands of Cuba and Hispaniola.
The long-snouted bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus Platalina. It is endemic to northern Peru and northern Chile. It feeds almost exclusively on the nectar and fruit of the columnar cactus. The species is rare, but has a wide distribution with at least 25 populations, and is listed as near-threatened due to habitat loss causing the removal of their primary food source.
Glossophaginae is a subfamily of leaf-nosed bats.
Anoura peruana is a species of bat from Colombia and Peru. It was elevated to a species in 2010, after previously being considered a subspecies of Geoffroy's tailless bat. The females are larger than the males.
The little yellow-shouldered Mesoamerican bat is a species of leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico and Central America.
