Bahaman funnel-eared bat

Last updated

Bahamian funnel-eared bat
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Natalidae
Genus: Chilonatalus
Species:
C. tumidifrons
Binomial name
Chilonatalus tumidifrons
Miller, 1903
Synonyms

Natalus tumidifrons(Miller, 1903)

The Bahaman funnel-eared bat (Chilonatalus tumidifrons) is a species of bat in the family Natalidae.

Contents

It is endemic to the Bahamas, in the northeastern Caribbean. It was first discovered by Miller in 1903. They are listed as "near threatened" by the IUCN due to the decline in their habitat. [2]

Description and biology

Females gather in maternity colonies where they give birth and care for their single offspring. Average gestation period is around ten months. Birth occurs in the late dry season, suggesting that mating occurs after the late dry season. The offspring are relatively large, often close to 50% of their mothers’ weight. Females are fully responsible for giving care to their newborn. The population of the Bahaman funnel-eared bat is decreasing due to their declining habitat environment. [1]

All funnel-eared bats have very large and funnel-shaped ears. These allow them to detect near-silent sounds and return echoes through echolocation. Small papillae cover their ears, increasing auditory sensitivity. Like other animals, they use olfactory and tactile cues to communicate. [3]

Habitat and ecology

This species is not very well known, because they are only located in Bahamian dry deciduous forests. The deep caves where they are found, are hot and moist and are maintained constantly. During active hours, Bahaman funnel-eared bats forage for insects in the dense areas of the surrounding forests. The bats are hard to catch because they are very agile flyers. [4]

Nothing is known about Bahaman funnel-eared bats home range, but they live near roosting caves. [5]

Threats

Bahaman funnel-eared bats are threatened due to their reliance on caves, and because of climate change. [2] The main conservation action needed is protecting the cave they live in. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectral bat</span> Species of bat

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaican fruit bat</span> Species of bat

The Jamaican, common, or Mexican fruit bat is a frugivorous bat species native to the Neotropics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalidae</span> Family of bats

The family Natalidae, or funnel-eared bats, are found from Mexico to Brazil and the Caribbean islands. The family has three genera, Chilonatalus, Natalus and Nyctiellus. They are slender bats with unusually long tails and, as their name suggests, funnel-shaped ears. They are small, at only 3.5 to 5.5 cm in length, with brown, grey, or reddish fur. Like many other bats, they are insectivorous, and roost in caves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-eared woolly bat</span> Species of mammals belonging to the New World leaf-nosed bat family

The big-eared woolly bat or (Peters's) woolly false vampire bat is a species of bat, belonging to the family Phyllostomidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parnell's mustached bat</span> Species of bat

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican funnel-eared bat</span> Species of bat (Natalus stramineus)

The Mexican funnel-eared bat is a bat species. Despite its name, it is native to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little big-eared bat</span> Species of bat

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican big-eared bat</span> Species of bat

The Mexican big-eared bat is a species of vesper bat endemic to Mexico. They are nocturnal and insectivorous. Their very large ears are located across their foreheads, and when captured, the bats are observed to curl their ears in a protective manner. The adults are usually brown colored, while the juveniles are usually a smokey brown color. They have small noses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafinesque's big-eared bat</span> Species of bat

Rafinesque's big-eared bat, sometimes known as the southeastern big-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat native to the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-eared myotis</span> Species of bat

The long-eared myotis is a species of vesper bat in the suborder Microchiroptera. It can be found in western Canada, the western United States, and Baja California in Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban funnel-eared bat</span> Species of bat

The Cuban funnel-eared bat is a species of bat in the family Natalidae. It is one of two species within the genus Chilonatalus and is found only in the Caribbean.

<i>Chilonatalus</i> Genus of bats

The genus Chilonatalus of funnel-eared bats is found in South America and the Antilles. It has three species. New mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences that were analyzed with published morphological data to see the relationship of extinct natalids. It was found that this fossil taxon's phylogeny that was based on morphological data can be assumed that the Chilonatalus micropus is and one other species is a widespread species

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leach's single leaf bat</span> Species of bat

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.

<i>Natalus</i> Genus of bats

The genus Natalus of funnel-eared bats is found from Mexico to Brazil and the Caribbean islands. They are slender bats with unusually long tails and, as their name suggests, funnel-shaped ears. They are small, at only 3.5 to 5.5 cm in length, with brown, grey, yellow, or reddish fur. Their tail is completely enclosed in the interfemoral membrane. Adult males have a natalid organ, a large glad-like organ, on the muzzle or face. Their skulls are delicate and extended. They have swollen, rounded braincase and narrow, somewhat tubular rostrum. They have nineteen teeth on both sides, with two upper and three lower being incisors, one upper and lower canine, three upper and lower premolars, and three upper and lower molars. Like many other bats, they are insectivorous, and roost in caves. The genus is similar to the Furipteridae and Thyropteridae genera. All three genera have mostly the same geographic ranges.

<i>Myotis septentrionalis</i> Species of mammal

Myotis septentrionalis, known as the northern long-eared bat or northern myotis, is a species of bat native to North America. There are no recognized subspecies. The northern long-eared bat is about 3–3.7 inches in length, with a wingspan of 9–10 inches. It is distinguishable by its long ears when comparing it to other bats in its genus. This species is commonly found in the northern United States and Southern Canada east of British Columbia. The geographic range includes 37 states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hispaniolan greater funnel-eared bat</span> Species of bat

The Hispaniolan greater funnel-eared bat is a funnel-eared bat species endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. First described in 1902, it has a complex taxonomic history, with some authors identifying multiple subspecies, now recognised as the separate species Natalus primus and Natalus jamaicensis, and others considering Natalus major to be itself a subspecies of Natalus stramineus. It lives primarily in caves and feeds on insects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban greater funnel-eared bat</span> Species of bat

The Cuban greater funnel-eared bat is a species of funnel-eared bat. It is endemic to a cave in westernmost Cuba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican greater funnel-eared bat</span> Species of bat

The Mexican greater funnel-eared bat is a species of bat found in Central America. While initially and currently described as a species, from 1959 to 2006 it was considered a subspecies of the Mexican funnel-eared bat, Natalus stramineus.

Chilonatalus macer is a species of bat endemic to Cuba.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Solari, S. (2018). "Chilonatalus tumidifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T14361A22041195. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T14361A22041195.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Buden, D. (1987). "A Guide to the Identification of the Bats of the Bahamas". Caribbean Journal of Science: 362–367.
  3. Dalquest, W (1950). "The Genera of the Chiropteran Family Natalidae". Journal of Mammalogy. 23 (4): 436–443. doi:10.2307/1375114. JSTOR   1375114.
  4. Koopman, K. (1957). "Notes on the Mammals of the Bahamas with special reference to bats". Journal of Mammalogy. 38 (2): 164–174. doi:10.2307/1376306. JSTOR   1376306.
  5. Miller, G (1903). "The mammals of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 24 (1269): 751–795. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.24-1269.751. hdl:2027/hvd.32044107357428.