| Brazilian big-eyed bat | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Phyllostomidae |
| Genus: | Chiroderma |
| Species: | C. doriae |
| Binomial name | |
| Chiroderma doriae Thomas, 1891 | |
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| Brazilian big-eyed bat range | |
The Brazilian big-eyed bat (Chiroderma doriae) is a species of phyllostomid bat from South America. The scientific name honours Italian naturalist Giacomo Doria.
The Brazilian big-eyed bat is small, with a total length of 7 to 8 centimetres (2.8 to 3.1 in), and weighing 27 to 33 grams (0.95 to 1.16 oz). [2] Like other big-eyed bats, it has a short snout, with a large cleft in the skull above the nose. The presence of this cleft gives the misleading impression that the skull lacks any nasal bones; these bones are fused with the surrounding bones, and simply do not join up in the midline, as they do in other bats. [3]
The Brazilian big-eyed bat has greyish brown fur over much of the body with greyish or dark brown underparts. There is a distinct white stripe down the middle of the back, and smaller white stripes above the eyes, stretching from the ears to the nose. The ears are rounded and relatively short, while the nose-leaf is pointed, with a rounded base. [2] Compared with most of its close relatives, the Brazilian big-eyed bat has few teeth, having a dental formula of 2.1.2.22.1.2.2. In addition, it has spike-like upper incisors and large molar teeth, especially the last upper molars, and a strong zygoma that supports powerful chewing muscles. These adaptations are believed to be related to its diet, allowing it to eat hard seeds. [4]
The Brazilian big-eyed bat is found in eastern Brazil, from Pernambuco to Parana, and inland to Goias and Mato Grosso do Sul. [1] Previously thought to be endemic to Brazil, it has also been found in eastern Paraguay. [5] There are no subspecies. While it may prefer tropical rainforest, the bat is found in a range of forested environments and small wooded areas, including agricultural land and parks. When food is scarce, it may venture into urban areas, such as Rio de Janeiro. [1]
The Brazilian big-eyed bat is nocturnal, and at its most active after midnight. It is herbivorous and highly specialised for eating figs, although it may occasionally feed on other fruits or flowers. Although it is not the only species of bat to feed on figs, only it, and its close relative the hairy big-eyed bat, have been reported to chew the seeds, as well as the softer pulp, of the fruit. [6] By doing so, they can extract more nutrition, especially protein, from the figs, allowing them to subsist primarily on this one type of fruit. [6] Although little is known of its roosting habits, the bat does not appear to be gregarious, with groups of no more than five individuals having been reported. [2]
Few details are known of the Brazilian big-eyed bat's reproductive habits. While some studies show that breeding may occur only at certain times of the year, others have shown that it can continue year-round. Newborn young are as much as 4.8 centimetres (1.9 in) in length (almost two thirds the length of their mothers) though much lighter. Young bats are somewhat more greyish than the adults and lack the distinct facial markings, although the stripe down the back is present from birth. [2]
Microbats constitute the suborder Microchiroptera within the order Chiroptera (bats). Bats have long been differentiated into Megachiroptera (megabats) and Microchiroptera, based on their size, the use of echolocation by the Microchiroptera and other features; molecular evidence suggests a somewhat different subdivision, as the microbats have been shown to be a paraphyletic group.
The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are bats 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 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 tailed tailless bat is a species of leaf-nosed bat from South America.
The silver fruit-eating bat is a South American bat species of the family Phyllostomidae.
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 Ipanema bat is a bat species of order Chiroptera and family Phyllostomidae. It is found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southeastern Brazil and Paraguay. It is the only species within its genus.
The visored bat,, is a bat species from tropical South America. It is the only species in the genus Sphaeronycteris. Although visored bats have some unique characteristics, they are thought to be most closely related to little white-shouldered bats and wrinkle-faced bats.
The bidentate yellow-eared bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae, native to South America. Formerly classified in the Vampyressa genus, phylogenetic analyses support its inclusion in Vampyriscus.
The great stripe-faced bat or stripe-faced vampire bat is a bat species found from southern Mexico to Bolivia and northwestern Brazil, as well as on Trinidad. The great stripe-faced bat is a frugivore. It is one of two species within the genus Vampyrodes the other being Vampyrodes major.
Chiroderma – big-eyed bats or white-lined bats – is a genus of leaf-nosed bat found in North America, Central America, and South America and the Lesser Antilles.
The Jamaican fig-eating bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only living species in the genus Ariteus. The scientific name translates as "yellowish and warlike". There are no recognised subspecies.
The flat-faced fruit-eating bat is a South American species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Jamaican fruit bat, but can be distinguished by its larger size, the presence of faint stripes on the face, and of a third molar tooth on each side of the upper jaw. Genetic analysis has also shown that the two species may not be closely related.
The Guadeloupe big-eyed bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Guadeloupe and Montserrat. It is threatened by habitat loss mostly because of Hurricane Hugo, which destroyed 90% of its population in 1989. The species may be locally extinct in some areas of Guadeloupe.
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 Cuban fig-eating bat, or white-shouldered bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae, found only in the Caribbean. It is the sole extant species in the genus Phyllops, although two other species, P. vetus and P. silvai, are known from fossils.
The brown-bellied broad-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. As a phyllostomid bat, it is characterized by a narrow uropatagium which is fringed with hair; a white dorsal stripe; large inner upper incisors convergent at the tips; and three upper and three lower molars. It is found in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, northern Brazil, eastern Ecuador, and the southern Venezuela. It is closely related to Platyrrhinus incarum and Platyrrhinus angustirostris.
Chiroderma vizottoi is a species of frugivorous bat found in the northeast of Brazil.
