The bat family Noctilionidae, commonly known as bulldog bats or fishing bats, is represented by two extant species, the greater and the lesser bulldog bats,[1] as well as at least one fossil species, Noctilio lacrimaelunaris, from the Miocene of Argentina.[2] The naked bulldog bat (Cheiromeles torquatus) does not belong to this family, but to the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. They are found near water in the Neotropics, from Mexico to Argentina and also in the Caribbean islands. In these areas they can be found roosting in groups within hollow trees, caves, manmade homes, or other openings with enough space.[3][4] While the two species exhibit different social and foraging behaviors both tend to return to a main roosting spot while also visiting other alternative roosting spots. [3][4]
The bulldog bats have orange to brown fur, and range in head-body length from 7 to 14 cm and weight of 20-75 g, which makes them quite large. They have relatively long legs, large feet (exceptionally so in the case of the greater bulldog bat), and strong claws. Their wings are long (up to 60 cm in spread) and narrow, and their ears are large, funnel shaped and pointed. Unusual among bats, they have cheek-pouches for storing food. They also have full lips divided by a fold of skin giving a 'hare lip' look which together with the cheek pouches gives them their bulldog-like appearance.
Their maxillae and premaxillae are fused for the strong support of the large upper medial incisors. Dental formula: 2/1, 1/1, 1/2, 3/3 = 28. The molars are tuberculosectorial. Unlike in other bats, the last cervical vertebra is not fused with the first thoracic. The wing second finger has a long metacarpal and a vestigial phalanx. The ischia are fused to each other and to the sacrum. The latter is keel-like. [5]
Ecology and behaviouredit
The species of lesser bulldog bats are insectivorous, and while the greater bulldog bats also eat insects, their chief food is fish.[6] They use their echolocation to pinpoint the ripples they make on the surfaces of water.[7]
The greater bulldog bat trawls the water with its long, curved talons approximately 2–3 cm below the surface. It makes sweeps of between 30 cm and 3 m before ascending and turning to make a return sweep. In a single night, the bat may catch 20-30 small fish in this way.[8]
Referencesedit
^Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^Naish, Darren. "Fossil Bat Stories, Part 3: Bulldog Bats".
^ abBrooke, Anne P. (1997). "Social Organization and Foraging Behaviour of the Fishing Bat, Noctilio leporinus (Chiroptera:Noctilionidae)". Ethology. 103 (5): 421–436. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1997.tb00157.x. ISSN 1439-0310.
^ abWohlgenant, T.; Pedersen, S.; Adkins, B.; Syme, D. M.; Pearl, D.; Merriman, C. B.; Long, J.; Dunning, D. C.; Audet, D. (1993-08-20). "Activity Patterns and Roost Selection by Noctilio albiventris (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae) in Costa Rica" (PDF). Journal of Mammalogy. 74 (3): 607–613. doi:10.2307/1382280. ISSN 0022-2372. JSTOR 1382280.
^Vaughan, Terry A. (1978). Mammalogy. W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN0-7216-9009-2.
^McDonald D. ed 2010 The Encyclopedia of Mammals Oxford University Press ISBN978-0-19-956799-7 p466
^Macdonald, D., ed. (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 805. ISBN978-0-87196-871-5.
^Piper, Ross (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press.
External linksedit
Media related to Noctilio at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Noctilio at Wikispecies
April 09, 2024
bulldog, confused, with, fish, eating, family, noctilionidae, commonly, known, bulldog, bats, fishing, bats, represented, extant, species, greater, lesser, bulldog, bats, well, least, fossil, species, noctilio, lacrimaelunaris, from, miocene, argentina, naked,. Not to be confused with fish eating bat The bat family Noctilionidae commonly known as bulldog bats or fishing bats is represented by two extant species the greater and the lesser bulldog bats 1 as well as at least one fossil species Noctilio lacrimaelunaris from the Miocene of Argentina 2 The naked bulldog bat Cheiromeles torquatus does not belong to this family but to the family Molossidae the free tailed bats They are found near water in the Neotropics from Mexico to Argentina and also in the Caribbean islands In these areas they can be found roosting in groups within hollow trees caves manmade homes or other openings with enough space 3 4 While the two species exhibit different social and foraging behaviors both tend to return to a main roosting spot while also visiting other alternative roosting spots 3 4 Bulldog batsTemporal range Miocene to RecentGreater bulldog bat Noctilio leporinus Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ChiropteraSuborder YangochiropteraSuperfamily NoctilionoideaFamily NoctilionidaeGray 1821Genus NoctilioLinnaeus 1766Type speciesNoctilio americanusSpeciesN leporinusN albiventris N lacrimaelunaris Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology and behaviour 3 References 4 External linksDescription editThe bulldog bats have orange to brown fur and range in head body length from 7 to 14 cm and weight of 20 75 g which makes them quite large They have relatively long legs large feet exceptionally so in the case of the greater bulldog bat and strong claws Their wings are long up to 60 cm in spread and narrow and their ears are large funnel shaped and pointed Unusual among bats they have cheek pouches for storing food They also have full lips divided by a fold of skin giving a hare lip look which together with the cheek pouches gives them their bulldog like appearance Their maxillae and premaxillae are fused for the strong support of the large upper medial incisors Dental formula 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 28 The molars are tuberculosectorial Unlike in other bats the last cervical vertebra is not fused with the first thoracic The wing second finger has a long metacarpal and a vestigial phalanx The ischia are fused to each other and to the sacrum The latter is keel like 5 Ecology and behaviour editThe species of lesser bulldog bats are insectivorous and while the greater bulldog bats also eat insects their chief food is fish 6 They use their echolocation to pinpoint the ripples they make on the surfaces of water 7 The greater bulldog bat trawls the water with its long curved talons approximately 2 3 cm below the surface It makes sweeps of between 30 cm and 3 m before ascending and turning to make a return sweep In a single night the bat may catch 20 30 small fish in this way 8 References edit Wilson D E Reeder D M eds 2005 Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Naish Darren Fossil Bat Stories Part 3 Bulldog Bats a b Brooke Anne P 1997 Social Organization and Foraging Behaviour of the Fishing Bat Noctilio leporinus Chiroptera Noctilionidae Ethology 103 5 421 436 doi 10 1111 j 1439 0310 1997 tb00157 x ISSN 1439 0310 a b Wohlgenant T Pedersen S Adkins B Syme D M Pearl D Merriman C B Long J Dunning D C Audet D 1993 08 20 Activity Patterns and Roost Selection by Noctilio albiventris Chiroptera Noctilionidae in Costa Rica PDF Journal of Mammalogy 74 3 607 613 doi 10 2307 1382280 ISSN 0022 2372 JSTOR 1382280 Vaughan Terry A 1978 Mammalogy W B Saunders Company ISBN 0 7216 9009 2 McDonald D ed 2010 The Encyclopedia of Mammals Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 956799 7 p466 Macdonald D ed 1984 The Encyclopedia of Mammals New York Facts on File pp 805 ISBN 978 0 87196 871 5 Piper Ross 2007 Extraordinary Animals An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals Greenwood Press External links edit nbsp Media related to Noctilio at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Noctilio at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bulldog bat amp oldid 1190855087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
