| Eumops ferox | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Molossidae |
| Genus: | Eumops |
| Species: | E. ferox |
| Binomial name | |
| Eumops ferox Gundlach, 1861 | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
Eumops ferox, the fierce bonneted bat or the chestnut mastiff bat, is a species of free-tailed bat found in the Caribbean and Mexico. Until recently, it was synonymous with Wagner's bonneted bat.
It was described as a new species in 1861 by Cuban naturalist Juan Gundlach. Gundlach initially placed it in the genus Molossus , with the name Molossus ferox. [2] It has been considered synonymous with Wagner's bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus. [3] It was generally recognized as synonymous with Wagner's bonneted bat until a 2008 study concluded that Wagner's bonneted bat was actually a species complex that should be broken into four species: Eumops ferox, the Florida bonneted bat, E. wilsoni , and Wagner's bonneted bat. [4] Its species name " ferox " is of Latin origin meaning "ferocious" or "fierce." When handling an individual in Jamaica, Philip Henry Gosse remarked the following:
When handled, its impatience of confinement is manifested by a continuous screeching, not very loud, but excessivly harsh and shrill . . . The mouth also is then opened widely and threateningly, and a sufficiently grim armature of teeth developed. [5]
E. ferox is very closely related to the Florida bonneted bat, Eumops floridanus. [6] The two have a very small genetic distance of 0.013. One analysis using mitochondrial DNA showed that the population of E. ferox in Cuba was more closely related to E. floridanus than it was to the E. ferox in Central America. [6] Authors of another paper hypothesized that E. ferox and E. floridanus were so closely related because their recent divergence caused incomplete lineage sorting. [7]
This is the species of bat that Philip Henry Gosse referred to as the chestnut mastiff bat in his 1851 book, A Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica. [5] Its ears are so large that they hang over its face. It has long, narrow wings. Like other members of its genus, it has a gular-thoracic gland, with the glands of the males producing a "very rank odour." [5] Its ears are hairless, while its toes have long, bristly hairs. [2] From head to tail, it is 131–151 mm (5.2–5.9 in). Its tail is 49–58 mm (1.9–2.3 in) long; its forearm is 57 mm (2.2 in) long. Individuals weigh approximately 38 g (1.3 oz). [8]
E. ferox is a nocturnal species, roosting in sheltered places during the day such as underneath roof shingles. These roosts will consist of multiple individuals, with one roost containing 15 individuals, as it is a colonial species. It emerges from its roost shortly after sunset to forage. It is insectivorous. [5] It is monoestrous, with a single annual breeding season. Pregnant females have been documented April through June, while lactating females have been documented in June and July. The litter size is one young, called a pup. Most females give birth in late June, with lactation lasting 5–6 weeks. [9]
It is found in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. [10]
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat families, specialised in many forms to occupy a range of habitats and ecological circumstances, and it is frequently observed or the subject of research. The facial features of the species are often simple, as they mainly rely on vocally emitted echolocation. The tails of the species are enclosed by the lower flight membranes between the legs. Over 300 species are distributed all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. It owes its name to the genus Vespertilio, which takes its name from a word for bat, vespertilio, derived from the Latin term vesper meaning 'evening'; they are termed "evening bats" and were once referred to as "evening birds".
The Molossidae, or free-tailed bats, are a family of bats within the order Chiroptera. The Molossidae is the fourth-largest family of bats, containing about 110 species as of 2012. They are generally quite robust, and consist of many strong-flying forms with relatively long and narrow wings with wrinkled lips shared through their genus. Their strong flying form allows them to fly 60 miles per hour using tail winds and at altitudes over 10,000 feet. This makes them unique among bats, as they are the only bat family that withstands the elevation. They are widespread, being found on every continent except Antarctica. They are typically found in caves, abandoned mines, or tunnels.
The name mastiff bat is applied to certain species of the bat family Molossidae or so called free-tailed bats. It is usually applied specifically to the following genera:
Wagner's bonneted bat or Wagner's mastiff bat, is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in the Americas from Argentina and Peru north to Mexico, and Cuba. Populations in Florida in the United States are now recognized as the Florida bonneted bat
The Colombian bonneted bat, also known as Trumbull's bonneted bat, is a bat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
The black mastiff bat is a bat species. It ranges from the northern region of South America, most of Central America and parts of southern Mexico.
Eumops is a genus of bats in the family Molossidae. A total of 17 species of this genus have been described. The name "Eumops" comes from the Greek prefix "Eu-", meaning "good" or "true," and the Malayan word "mops," which means bat.
The western mastiff bat, also known as the western bonneted bat, the greater mastiff bat, or the greater bonneted bat, is a member of the free-tailed bat family, Molossidae. It is found in the Western United States, Mexico and South America. This species is the largest bat native to North America, and some of its distinguishing characteristics are its large ears, wings, and forearms. The subspecies Eumops perotis californicus is a species of concern as identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The range of this subspecies is principally southwest desert regions of the United States, along the border with Mexico; however, the range extends as far north on the Pacific coast as Alameda County, California.
The big bonneted bat, or Dabbene's mastiff bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae, native to South America. It is named for a former conservator at the Buenos Aires National Museum.
Underwood's bonneted bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae.
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.
The Sinaloan mastiff bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae, native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America.
The Aztec mastiff bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is insectivorous.
The Patagonian bonneted bat, also called the Patagonian dwarf bonneted bat, is a species of free-tailed bat found in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.
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.
Eumops nanus is a species of bat found in Central and South America.
Eumops wilsoni is a species of bat native to Ecuador and Peru. The bat has a distinct karyotype, sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene, and other distinct genetic markers that distinguish it from closely related bats such as Eumops glaucinus and Eumops ferox. However, there are no morphological distinctions from those related species and thus there is uncertainty of its geographic distribution and population status, leading to its classification as "data deficient". Local threats to the bat's dry forest habitat further impede efforts to study the bats. Transition to farmland and urbanization threatens the dry forest habitat of the bat in the Andes. As an endemic species, the bat may be threatened by this habitat loss.
