The thumbless bat (''Furipterus horrens'') is a species of insectivorous

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most ...

in the family

Furipteridae Furipteridae is family of bats, allying two genera of single species, '' Amorphochilus schnablii'' (smoky bat) and the type '' Furipterus horrens'' (thumbless bat). They are found in Central and South America and are closely related to the bats ...

, in the

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...

genus ''Furipterus''. They have a small thumb which is included in the membrane of the wing, causing the 'thumbless' appearance.

Taxonomy

The thumbless bat belongs to the family Furipteridae (Mammalia: Chiroptera) which is currently composed of only two genera: '' Amorphochilus'' and ''Furipterus''. Both genera are monotypic. The first description of the species was proposed by

Frédéric Cuvier Georges-Frédéric Cuvier (28 June 1773 – 24 July 1838) was a French zoologist and paleontologist. He was the younger brother of noted naturalist and zoologist Georges Cuvier. Career Frederic was the head keeper of the menagerie at the Musé ...

in 1828, separating the taxon to a new genus ''Furia''. The taxon was reassigned to ''Furipterus'' in 1839 by Charles Bonaparte.

Geographic range

The thumbless bat is found in Central and South America. Its range includes Costa Rica, Panama, southern Brazil and Bolivia. as well as

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

, Colombia,

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

, Suriname,

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas. ...

, Guyana,

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...

, and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. In Brazil, it was recorded in twelve different regions covering the Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes.

Population and behavior

Its populations are rare and very local, but widespread. Male and female bats may live separately during some parts of the year. There were found more than 60 males occupying one hollow. Thumbless bats are aerial and insectivorous. The thumbless bat is found in caves. Additionally, it is associated with moist environments. Thumbless bats were detected significantly more frequently over large lakes(Emmons and Feer 1997). The moist habitat plays a key role for aerial insectivorous bats. However, thumbless bat's activity is significantly higher in forest compared to the lakes. They roots in small clusters in colonies for up to 60 individuals in caves. The nests are located in deep cracks between rocks.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q301278 Mammals described in 1828 Taxa named by Frédéric Cuvier Bats of South America Furipteridae Bats of Brazil Mammals of Colombia Bats of Central America Mammals of Ecuador Mammals of French Guiana Mammals of Guyana Mammals of Peru Mammals of Suriname Mammals of Trinidad and Tobago Mammals of Venezuela