| Big naked-backed bat | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Mormoopidae |
| Genus: | Pteronotus |
| Species: | P. gymnonotus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pteronotus gymnonotus (Wagner, 1843) | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The big naked-backed bat (Pteronotus gymnonotus), is a bat species from South and Central America.
It was described as a new species in 1843 by German zoologist Johann Andreas Wagner. Wagner placed it in the now-defunct genus Chilonycteris. The holotype had been collected in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. [2] Taxon authority is sometimes given to Johann Natterer, however. [3] According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature's Principle of Priority, the first author to publish a species name is considered the authority of that name. Smith (1977) hypothesized that Wagner copied Natterer's species description directly from his diary, and thus gave Natterer the authority. Carter and Dolan (1978) stated that Wagner's description was not comparable to Natterer's, which is why they attribute the name to Wagner. [4] The reference texts Mammals of South America and Mammals of Mexico also list Wagner as the authority. [3] [5]
Instead of attaching to the sides of the bat, its wings attach to its back near its spine. This gives individuals the appearance of having a "naked back" due to the lack of fur on their wings. However, its back is furred under the wings. The fur ranged in colour from dark brown to bright orange, being lighter on the underparts. The larger of the two species of naked-backed bat, individuals weigh 12–16 g (0.42–0.56 oz) and have a forearm length of 49–56 mm (1.9–2.2 in). The ears are pointed with a smooth edge, and the nose has a flattened, plate-like shape with small warty tubercles over the nostrils and short spikes to either side. [2]
Like all species in its family, it has a dental formula of 2.1.2.32.1.3.3 for a total of 34 teeth. [5]
Big naked-backed bats are found from southeastern Mexico through the whole of Central America and into Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. [3] They inhabit tropical forests and savannah and are usually found at elevations below 400 m (1,300 ft) [1] although they are sometimes found as high as 1,000 m (3,300 ft). [2] They are adapted to hot environments, and are unable to tolerate temperatures below 15 °C (59 °F) for long. [6]
The big naked-backed bat roosts in large, humid, cave systems, often in association with many other local bat species; a researcher reported 50,000 individuals roosting together with other bats in two colonies in a karst landscape in Brazil. [7] They feed on insects, mostly moths, beetles, and orthopterans. [8] Their echolocation calls have been reported to have up to three harmonics, with the most intense starting at 55 kHz and falling to 48.7 kHz. [9] When hunting prey the calls can reach a volume of 130 dB. [10]
The breeding season takes place at different times of the year across their range. Mothers give birth to a single, naked, young which is initially raised in a maternity roost that may be shared with other closely related species. [11]
The bat family Noctilionidae, commonly known as bulldog bats or fishing bats, is represented by two extant species, the greater and the lesser bulldog bats, as well as at least one fossil species, Noctilio lacrimaelunaris, from the Miocene of Argentina. The naked bulldog bat does not belong to this family, but to the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. They are found near water in the Neotropics, from Mexico to Argentina and also in the Caribbean islands. In these areas they can be found roosting in groups within hollow trees, caves, manmade homes, or other openings with enough space. While the two species exhibit different social and foraging behaviors both tend to return to a main roosting spot while also visiting other alternative roosting spots.
The greater bulldog bat or fisherman bat is a species of fishing bat native to Latin America. The bat uses echolocation to detect water ripples made by the fish upon which it preys, then uses the pouch between its legs to scoop the fish up and its sharp claws to catch and cling to it. It is not to be confused with the lesser bulldog bat, which, though belonging to the same genus, merely catches water insects, such as water striders and water beetles.
The spectral bat, also called the great false vampire bat, great spectral bat, American false vampire bat or Linnaeus's false vampire bat, is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is the only member of the genus Vampyrum; its closest living relative is the big-eared woolly bat. It is the largest bat species in the New World, as well as the largest carnivorous bat: its wingspan is 0.7–1.0 m (2.3–3.3 ft). It has a robust skull and teeth, with which it delivers a powerful bite to kill its prey. Birds are frequent prey items, though it may also consume rodents, insects, and other bats.
The Mexican free-tailed bat or Brazilian free-tailed bat is a medium-sized bat native to the Americas, so named because its tail can be almost half its total length and is not attached to its uropatagium. It has been claimed to have the fastest horizontal speed of any animal, reaching top ground speeds over 99 mph (160 km/h). It also flies the highest among bats, at altitudes around 3,300 m (10,800 ft).
The Jamaican, common, or Mexican fruit bat is a frugivorous bat species native to the Neotropics.
The family Mormoopidae contains bats known generally as mustached bats, ghost-faced bats, and naked-backed bats. They are found in the Americas from the Southwestern United States to Southeastern Brazil.
Parnell's mustached bat is an insectivorous bat native to the Americas. It ranges from southern Sonora, Mexico, south to Brazil. It has a wider historical range; fossil specimens have been collected on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas.
The pallid bat is a species of bat that ranges from western Canada to central Mexico. It is the sole species of its genus and is closely related to Van Gelder's bat, which is sometimes included in Antrozous. Although it has in the past been placed in its own subfamily (Antrozoinae) or even family (Antrozoidae), it is now considered part of the subfamily Vespertilioninae and the tribe Antrozoini.
Wagner's mustached bat is a bat species from South and Central America. It is one of the few New World bats species known to perform Doppler shift compensation behavior.
The Bonda mastiff bat or Thomas's mastiff bat, is a species of mastiff bat from South and Central America. It is named for the town of Bonda, near Santa Marta in Colombia.
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).
Davy's (lesser) naked-backed bat is a small, insect-eating, cave-dwelling bat of the Family Mormoopidae. It is found throughout South and Central America, including Trinidad, but not Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, or French Guiana. Specimens of this bat had been found infected with rabies in Trinidad during the height of that island's vampire-bat-transmitted rabies epidemic of the early half of the 20th century, but not in recent times.
The lesser bamboo bat or lesser flat-headed bat is one of the smallest species of vesper bat, and is native to Southeast Asia.
The fringed myotis is a species of vesper bat that is found in British Columbia, Mexico, and the western United States.
The Yuma myotis is a species of vesper bat native to western North America.
Sundevall's roundleaf bat, also called Sundevall's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae.
Miller's mastiff bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
Macleay's mustached bat is a species of bat in the family Mormoopidae. It is found in Cuba and Jamaica, and is threatened by habitat loss. The species is named for William Sharp Macleay, who collected the type specimen.
The sooty mustached bat is a species of bat in the family Mormoopidae. It is found in throughout the Greater Antilles, in Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
The Florida bonneted bat or Florida mastiff bat is a species of bat in the genus Eumops, the bonneted bats or mastiff bats. Until recently, it was classified as a subspecies of Wagner's bonneted bat. It is endemic to southern Florida in the United States. This species has one of the smallest geographical distributions of any New World bat. It has been called "one of the most critically endangered mammal species in North America". It is protected under the Endangered Species Act.
