The heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor) is a species of bat in the family Megadermatidae. It is the only species within the genusCardioderma.[2] It is found in eastern Sudan, north Tanzania, and south Zambia. In an experiment conducted in 2017, it was concluded that heart-nosed bats emit vocalizations or "sing" as a way to establish their foraging areas and actively defend these territories from other bats of the same species.
The heart-nosed bat typically occupies areas that are in dry lowlands, coastal strips, and river valleys.[3] Places of interest that the bats tend to gather in the daylight hours are abandoned buildings, dry caves, or baobab trees. They are also found living no higher than 940 meters or 3094 feet in elevation. Heart-nosed bats live in large colonies together, but they are very territorial and do not mingle with other bat species.[3]
Appearance
Heart-nosed bats weigh 21–35 g (0.74–1.23 oz) and are 70–77 mm (2.8–3.0 in) in length. Heart-nosed bats have blueish/grayish fur. Their fur also hangs off of their body and is considered to be long and loose.[3] These bats have no tails, unlike most other species of bats. Some of the most recognizable features of this species is its teeth and skull, as well as its heart-shaped nose.[3]
Reproduction
Heart-nosed bats are monogamous. If possible, mates will stay together during multiple mating seasons. Breeding sites are extremely territorial and are typically protected by the males. These sites are set up during the breeding season itself and afterwards it will be taken down. A new breeding site will be found for the next mating season.[3] The female period of gestation is three months. Baby bats are referred to as pups. Heart-nosed bats can only have one pup at a time. Females, like all mammals, feed their young via lactation. Females will carry their newborns until two months of age. After the third month, the pup is weaned from its mother and will then follow the mother around. The pup learns from its mother about foraging and territories that will allow them to be successful later in their life.[3] The father's parental behavior is mostly unknown, but it is thought that the songs and territorial protection is protection of the mother and their young. The prime reproduction months happen between March and June and then again between October and December. These months are in the rainy season months and make the best mating months for heart-nosed bats.[3]
Behavior and diet
Heart-nosed bats are nocturnal. Depending on when the sun sets, they will wake up and start making their way to their feeding zones. They will typically do this a couple minutes before the sun actually sets.[3] These bats have a strategy called "hawking" that allows them to collect bugs. They also use a "sit-and-wait" strategy. The sit-and-wait strategy involves hanging from a perch and waiting until an insect comes along to be preyed upon. The sit-and-wait strategy is usually used during the dry season. Hawking is usually used when the wet seasons are happening.[3] During the dry season, the heart-nosed bats diet primarily consists of terrestrial beetles and leaf gleaning. The most common beetles that are fed on are the Scarabeidae, Tenebrionidae, and the Carabidae. During the wet season, the heart-nosed bat's diet primarily consists of large terrestrial beetles, locusts, katydids, moths, small bats, and frogs.[3] These bats mainly stick to themselves and do not mingle with other species. The cause of this is unknown. There are no known predators that actively seek out heart-nosed bats. However, common predators such as snakes, cats, and owls will prey on the young pups if the opportunity arises.[3] Heart-nosed bats also take time out of the day to groom themselves and others. It is unknown if this helps increase the social bond between the bats as it would in other species.[3]
Ecosystem
Heart-nosed bats are extremely beneficial for the ecosystem and environment. They primarily feed on bugs, which allows for insect and pest regulations. Crops that could be easily damaged by pests will be taken care of by the bats. Insect populations that are growing too quickly will also be taken care of.[3] While they are mostly beneficial, there is one negative aspect to the heart-nosed bats in the ecosystem. The heart-nosed bat is a carrier of Borrelia. Borrelia is a bacterium that can cause Lyme disease. This can be transferred to humans, and be given a fever along with the illness.[4]
Vocalization
Heart-nosed bats are one of the first bat species to be heard singing, or vocalizing. Many behaviors of this bat are still unknown but it was found with studies that the heart-nosed bats will cluster together in the daylight hours but then go their separate ways during the night hours. The night hours are when the singing takes place.[5] It was observed that there are two known songs. The more common of the two songs is referred to as a loud song. The less common of the two songs is referred to as a soft song. The soft song is sung more during the dry season than the loud song.[5] Each bat has their own variation of both songs, especially the soft song. While these songs were being observed, although each of them varied, all the songs had a similar pattern to them. It was clear which song was being sung. One theory to the heart-nosed bats singing and songs are linked to how territorial they are. Another theory is the singing corresponds to social interactions between each beat, which is why the songs themselves are unique to the individual.[5]
References
^Monadjem, A.; Bergmans, W.; Mickleburgh, S.; Hutson, A.M. (2017). "Cardioderma cor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T3859A22136371. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T3859A22136371.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
^Group), Anthony Hutson (IUCN SSC Chiroptera Specialist; Mickleburgh, Simon; Bergmans, Wim; Swaziland), Ara Monadjem (University of (2016-08-31). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Heart-nosed Bat". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
^Trinachartvanit, Wachareeporn; Hirunkanokpun, Supanee; Sudsangiem, Ronnayuth; Lijuan, Wanwisa; Boonkusol, Duangjai; Baimai, Visut; Ahantarig, Arunee (2016-06-24). "Borrelia sp. phylogenetically different from Lyme disease- and relapsing fever-related Borrelia spp. in Amblyomma varanense from Python reticulatus". Parasites & Vectors. 9 (1): 359. doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1629-8. ISSN 1756-3305. PMC4920998. PMID 27342652.
^ abcSmarsh, Grace Christina (2017-06-29). Behavioral Ecology of Singing in the Heart-Nosed Bat, Cardioderma cor (Thesis thesis).
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February 21, 2023
heart, nosed, heart, nosed, cardioderma, species, family, megadermatidae, only, species, within, genus, cardioderma, found, eastern, sudan, north, tanzania, south, zambia, experiment, conducted, 2017, concluded, that, heart, nosed, bats, emit, vocalizations, s. The heart nosed bat Cardioderma cor is a species of bat in the family Megadermatidae It is the only species within the genus Cardioderma 2 It is found in eastern Sudan north Tanzania and south Zambia In an experiment conducted in 2017 it was concluded that heart nosed bats emit vocalizations or sing as a way to establish their foraging areas and actively defend these territories from other bats of the same species Heart nosed batConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ChiropteraFamily MegadermatidaeGenus CardiodermaPeters 1873Species C corBinomial nameCardioderma corPeters 1872Heart nosed bat range Contents 1 Habitat 2 Appearance 3 Reproduction 4 Behavior and diet 5 Ecosystem 6 Vocalization 7 ReferencesHabitat EditThe heart nosed bat typically occupies areas that are in dry lowlands coastal strips and river valleys 3 Places of interest that the bats tend to gather in the daylight hours are abandoned buildings dry caves or baobab trees They are also found living no higher than 940 meters or 3094 feet in elevation Heart nosed bats live in large colonies together but they are very territorial and do not mingle with other bat species 3 Appearance EditHeart nosed bats weigh 21 35 g 0 74 1 23 oz and are 70 77 mm 2 8 3 0 in in length Heart nosed bats have blueish grayish fur Their fur also hangs off of their body and is considered to be long and loose 3 These bats have no tails unlike most other species of bats Some of the most recognizable features of this species is its teeth and skull as well as its heart shaped nose 3 Reproduction EditHeart nosed bats are monogamous If possible mates will stay together during multiple mating seasons Breeding sites are extremely territorial and are typically protected by the males These sites are set up during the breeding season itself and afterwards it will be taken down A new breeding site will be found for the next mating season 3 The female period of gestation is three months Baby bats are referred to as pups Heart nosed bats can only have one pup at a time Females like all mammals feed their young via lactation Females will carry their newborns until two months of age After the third month the pup is weaned from its mother and will then follow the mother around The pup learns from its mother about foraging and territories that will allow them to be successful later in their life 3 The father s parental behavior is mostly unknown but it is thought that the songs and territorial protection is protection of the mother and their young The prime reproduction months happen between March and June and then again between October and December These months are in the rainy season months and make the best mating months for heart nosed bats 3 Behavior and diet EditHeart nosed bats are nocturnal Depending on when the sun sets they will wake up and start making their way to their feeding zones They will typically do this a couple minutes before the sun actually sets 3 These bats have a strategy called hawking that allows them to collect bugs They also use a sit and wait strategy The sit and wait strategy involves hanging from a perch and waiting until an insect comes along to be preyed upon The sit and wait strategy is usually used during the dry season Hawking is usually used when the wet seasons are happening 3 During the dry season the heart nosed bats diet primarily consists of terrestrial beetles and leaf gleaning The most common beetles that are fed on are the Scarabeidae Tenebrionidae and the Carabidae During the wet season the heart nosed bat s diet primarily consists of large terrestrial beetles locusts katydids moths small bats and frogs 3 These bats mainly stick to themselves and do not mingle with other species The cause of this is unknown There are no known predators that actively seek out heart nosed bats However common predators such as snakes cats and owls will prey on the young pups if the opportunity arises 3 Heart nosed bats also take time out of the day to groom themselves and others It is unknown if this helps increase the social bond between the bats as it would in other species 3 Ecosystem EditHeart nosed bats are extremely beneficial for the ecosystem and environment They primarily feed on bugs which allows for insect and pest regulations Crops that could be easily damaged by pests will be taken care of by the bats Insect populations that are growing too quickly will also be taken care of 3 While they are mostly beneficial there is one negative aspect to the heart nosed bats in the ecosystem The heart nosed bat is a carrier of Borrelia Borrelia is a bacterium that can cause Lyme disease This can be transferred to humans and be given a fever along with the illness 4 Vocalization EditHeart nosed bats are one of the first bat species to be heard singing or vocalizing Many behaviors of this bat are still unknown but it was found with studies that the heart nosed bats will cluster together in the daylight hours but then go their separate ways during the night hours The night hours are when the singing takes place 5 It was observed that there are two known songs The more common of the two songs is referred to as a loud song The less common of the two songs is referred to as a soft song The soft song is sung more during the dry season than the loud song 5 Each bat has their own variation of both songs especially the soft song While these songs were being observed although each of them varied all the songs had a similar pattern to them It was clear which song was being sung One theory to the heart nosed bats singing and songs are linked to how territorial they are Another theory is the singing corresponds to social interactions between each beat which is why the songs themselves are unique to the individual 5 References Edit Monadjem A Bergmans W Mickleburgh S Hutson A M 2017 Cardioderma cor IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T3859A22136371 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T3859A22136371 en Retrieved 14 November 2021 Group Anthony Hutson IUCN SSC Chiroptera Specialist Mickleburgh Simon Bergmans Wim Swaziland Ara Monadjem University of 2016 08 31 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Heart nosed Bat IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Retrieved 2020 04 23 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Small Scott Cardioderma cor heart nosed bat Animal Diversity Web Retrieved 2020 04 23 Trinachartvanit Wachareeporn Hirunkanokpun Supanee Sudsangiem Ronnayuth Lijuan Wanwisa Boonkusol Duangjai Baimai Visut Ahantarig Arunee 2016 06 24 Borrelia sp phylogenetically different from Lyme disease and relapsing fever related Borrelia spp in Amblyomma varanense from Python reticulatus Parasites amp Vectors 9 1 359 doi 10 1186 s13071 016 1629 8 ISSN 1756 3305 PMC 4920998 PMID 27342652 a b c Smarsh Grace Christina 2017 06 29 Behavioral Ecology of Singing in the Heart Nosed Bat Cardioderma cor Thesis thesis Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cardioderma cor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Heart nosed bat amp oldid 1123378417, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
