The fringe-lipped bat (''Trachops cirrhosus'') is a
leaf-nosed bat from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. It has three
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
and no known fossils. It is
the only species within its genus.
Morphology
The fringe-lipped bat has wart-like bumps on its lips and muzzle, which give it its name. The bat has an overall color of a reddish brown with gray on its belly. The fur is long and woolly. It is medium in size, about 32 grams.
[Garog, A. 1999.''Trachops cirrhosus'' (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. accessed December04, 2008 a]
The tail is short. It has a nose-leaf with serrated edges. It has two pairs of lower incisors with three pairs of lower premolars. The molars have tubercular depressions with w-shaped cusps. The rostrum is shorter than the braincase but equal to the width of the braincase. It has a low wing-aspect ratio and high wing loading.
[Cramer, M.J., Willig, M.R., & Jones, C. 2001.''Trachops cirrhosus''. Mammalian Species.656:1-6.]
Reproduction and development
The fringe-lipped bat generally mates during the dry season in the tropics, usually from January to June. There is no real difference in appearance between the male and the female. It gives birth to one offspring at a time. The young can stay with the parents for a considerable amount of time.
)
Ecology
Its preferred
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
is near ponds or streams. It roosts in trees or hollow logs and sometimes in caves. It likes tropical dry and moist forests. ''Trachops cirrhosus'' is an opportunistic foliage-gleaning
omnivore
An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nutr ...
, eating mainly insects with some lizards, frogs (such as ''hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni''),
fruits, and seeds. In rare cases this species has been idententified eating bats such as ''
Furipterus horrens
The thumbless bat (''Furipterus horrens'') is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Furipteridae, in the monotypic genus ''Furipterus''. They have a small thumb which is included in the membrane of the wing, causing the 'thumbless' appeara ...
''. It sometimes shares roosts with other species of bats. It is sometimes preyed upon by
gray four-eyed opossum
The gray four-eyed opossum (''Philander opossum'') is an opossum species from Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia and southwestern Brazil, at altitudes from sea level to 1600 m, but generally below . Its habit ...
s.
Behavior
''Trachops cirrhosus'' roost in groups of up to 50 individuals and both sexes roost together. They emerge from the roosts early when there is still daylight because that is the best time to hunt
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...
s. They hunt in continuous flight or sally out from perches. They hunt by following sounds of insects and frogs
and also by using
echolocation.
Some frog species, such as ''
Smilisca sila'', have evolved methods of acoustic crypsis to confuse auditory predators like ''T. cirrhosus''. This is done by synchronizing the timing of calls.
Conservation
The current conservation status of ''Trachops cirrhosus'' is least concern because its populations are currently stable.
[*
] Because it is stable there are no conservation action plans. But because of its feeding habits, it is placed in a precarious position that puts it at a risk from human activity.
Gallery
File:Trachops cirrhosus teeth.jpg, Trachops cirrhosus teeth
References
Further reading
*
External links
Images at ADW
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1445531
Phyllostomidae
Bats of Central America
Bats of South America
Bats of Brazil
Bats of Mexico
Mammals of Bolivia
Mammals of Colombia
Mammals of Ecuador
Mammals of French Guiana
Mammals of Guyana
Mammals of Peru
Mammals of Suriname
Mammals of Trinidad and Tobago
Mammals of Venezuela
Fauna of the Amazon
Mammals described in 1823