Natalidae is one of the twenty families of bats in the mammalian order Chiroptera and part of the microbat suborder. Members of this family are called natalids or funnel-eared bats. They are found in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, in forests and caves. The majority of species in the familt do not have size estimates, though those that do range in size from the Mexican greater funnel-eared bat, at 3 cm (1 in) plus a 4 cm (2 in), to the Jamaican greater funnel-eared bat, at 6 cm (2 in) plus a 6 cm (2 in) tail. Like all bats, natalids are capable of true and sustained flight, and have wing lengths ranging from 3 cm (1 in) to 5 cm (2 in). They are all insectivorous. [1] No natalids have population estimates, though the Jamaican greater funnel-eared bat is categorized as critically endangered.
The eleven extant species of Natalidae are divided into three genera: Chilonatalus, with three species; Natalus, with seven species; and Nyctiellus, with a single species. A few extinct prehistoric natalid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. [2]
Conservation status | |
---|---|
EX | Extinct (0 species) |
EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
CR | Critically endangered (1 species) |
EN | Endangered (0 species) |
VU | Vulnerable (2 species) |
NT | Near threatened (3 species) |
LC | Least concern (4 species) |
Other categories | |
DD | Data deficient (1 species) |
NE | Not evaluated (0 species) |
Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the natalid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.
The family Natalidae consists of eleven species in three genera: Chilonatalus, Natalus, and Nyctiellus.
Family Natalidae
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists. [3]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bahaman funnel-eared bat | C. tumidifrons Miller, 1903 | Caribbean | Size: Unknown length 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Caves and forest [5] | NT
|
Chilonatalus macer | C. macer Miller, 1914 | Cuba | Size: Unknown length 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Forest [6] | DD
|
Cuban funnel-eared bat | C. micropus (Dobson, 1880) Two subspecies
| Caribbean | Size: Unknown length 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Caves [7] | VU
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brazilian funnel-eared bat | N. macrourus (Gervais, 1856) | Eastern South America![]() | Size: Unknown length 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Caves [8] | NT
|
Cuban greater funnel-eared bat | N. primus (Anthony, 1919) | Cuba![]() | Size: Unknown length 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Caves [9] | VU
|
Hispaniolan greater funnel-eared bat | N. major (Miller, 1902) | Island of Hispaniola ![]() | Size: Unknown length 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Forest and caves [10] | NT
|
Jamaican greater funnel-eared bat | N. jamaicensis (Goodwin, 1959) | Jamaica | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in) long, plus 5–6 cm (2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Caves [11] | CR
|
Mexican funnel-eared bat | N. stramineus Gray, 1838 Five subspecies
| Caribbean | Size: Unknown length 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Forest and caves [12] | LC
|
Mexican greater funnel-eared bat | N. mexicanus Miller, 1902 | Central America | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Forest and caves [13] | LC
|
Trinidadian funnel-eared bat | N. tumidirostris Miller, 1900 Three subspecies
| Northern South America | Size: Unknown length 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Forest and caves [14] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gervais's funnel-eared bat | N. lepidus Gervais, 1837 | Cuba and The Bahamas ![]() | Size: Unknown length 2–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [4] Habitat: Forest and caves [15] | LC
|