The lesser dog-like bat (''Peropteryx macrotis''), also known as Peters' sac-winged bat, is a species of bat from

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

and Central America. First described in 1826, it was renamed in 1843 because the original scientific name was already in use for another species.

Description

The lesser dog-like bat is a small bat, measuring about in head-body length, with a tail about long. Adults weigh only about , although females are larger than males. They have moderately long fur, which can vary from brown to grey, or even reddish. While it is the smallest of the dog-like bats, it shares with them the long, hairless, snout that is the source of their common name. Apart from the smaller size, it can also be distinguished from its close relatives by possessing an outward-opening glandular sac on the part of the wing membrane forward of the arms.

Distribution and habitat

Lesser dog-like bats are found in the south from eastern Veracruz and Oaxaca in Mexico, throughout Central America. In South America, they are found throughout

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

, but otherwise only east of the Andes, reaching eastern

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

, northern Paraguay, and Santa Catarina in Brazil at their southernmost extent. Within this region they are most commonly found in tropical deciduous forest below , although they are sometimes found in evergreen forest or semi-arid scrubland. There are no recognised subspecies, although the

Trinidad dog-like bat The Trinidad dog-like bat (''Peropteryx trinitatis'') is a species of bat from the family Emballonuridae. It is native to Aruba, French Guiana, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. The bat is considered to be rare everywhere in its geogra ...

was formerly considered a subspecies of ''P. macrotis''.

Biology and behaviour

Lesser dog-like bats feed primarily on small beetles and flies. During the day, they primarily roost in caves although they may also use artificial structures such as culverts, ruins, and church roofs. Colonies are typically small, with less than 15 individuals, although the bats may share their roosts with various other species. Such colonies often contain only a single male, who may use scent secreted from his wing-sacs to attract females. Known predators include owls and

big-eared woolly bat The big-eared woolly bat or (Peters's) woolly false vampire bat (''Chrotopterus auritus'') is a species of bat, belonging to the family Phyllostomidae. The name ''Chrotopterus'' is derived from Greek roots ''ch''ariots (skin, color), and ''pter ...

s. The bats breed throughout the year, and have a gestation period of between four and four-and-a-half months. Mothers typically give birth to a single young at a time, which gestates in the left horn of their bicornuate uterus.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q338980 Bats of South America Bats of Brazil Mammals of Colombia Emballonuridae Bats of Central America Mammals described in 1843