The lesser bulldog bat (''Noctilio albiventris'') is an insectivorous and occasionally carnivorous
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 ...
of the (
Neotropics
The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone.
Definition
In bioge ...
), ranging through
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
and northern
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
. Some unique characteristics of the bat include, large feet that are used to rake the surface of water to capture prey, and precise echolocation. Occasionally, the larger bats catch and consume small fish (the most closely related species, the greater bulldog bat, is known for its fishing ability).
Description
The lesser bulldog bat is a sexually dimoprhic species; males are typically bright red and females are typically dull brown. Furthermore, coloration varies between individuals among the same sex, and between different populations. They have a length of about three inches (7.5 cm), a forearm length of , and weight of about one ounce (30 grams).Hood, C. S., & Pitocchelli J., (1983). Noctilio albiventris. ''American Society of Mammalogists'',''197'', 1-5 The bats plump lips and chin that has well-developed cross ridges give rise to the bats "
bulldog
The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is of medium size, a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose. The lesser bulldog bat has large feet that are claw-like and can be used capture prey.
Habitat
The bats prefer terrestrial habitats and they live near water or damp locations, residing in hollow trees or domestic dwellings. The locations that they can be found in includes, Argentina; Belize; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Brazil; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador; French Guiana; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru
Feeding
The species ptefers to feed predominantly on insects, catching them while flying over water. Studies on Costa Rican population say that the bats also consume tree pollen.
Echolocation
''Noctilio albvirentis'' is known for utilizing its echolocation to locate prey such as
insects
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of j ...
. The unique feature of their echolocation is how they use it to locate their prey.Brown, P. E., Brown, T. W., & Grinell, A. D., (1983). Echolocation, development, and vocal communication in the lesser bulldog bat, ''Noctilio albiventris''. ''Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 13''(4), 287-298 As they skim across the water they will bombard the water with their vocalization and when they detect a disturbance of the vocalization they move to the disturbance. Additionally, since the lesser bulldog bat prefers to forage in small groups they also use echolocation to communicate during foraging.
Development and lifespan
They live about ten years and reach sexual maturity in one year.Lundrigan B., & Kamarainen A., (2003). Noctilio albiventris
lesser bulldog bat. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Noctilio_albiventris/
Ovulation
Ovulation is the release of eggs from the ovaries. In women, this event occurs when the ovarian follicles rupture and release the secondary oocyte ovarian cells. After ovulation, during the luteal phase, the egg will be available to be fertilize ...
occurs in the ovary the gestation period lasts about 4 to 5 weeks. Baby bats are capable of very limited vocalization, and they cannot begin flight until 5 to 6 weeks after birth. Mother bats will feed their young until the babies are three months old.
Predators
Predation on bats is uncommon however large birds are known to prey upon bats.Camargo, P. H. S. A., & Laps, R. R., (2016). Predation on Lesser Bulldog Bat (Noctilio albiventris Noctilionidae) by Great Rufous Woodcreeper (Xiphocolaptes major Dendrocolaptidae) ''The Wilson Journal of Ornithology'' ''128(4),''903–912 One distinct bird preys on the lesser bulldog bat i The Great Rufous Woodcreeper The woodcreeper will invade the bats roost and take the bat from its habitat. Upon capture the Woodcreeper peaks the bat with its sharp beak until the bad dies. Other predators of the bat include hawks, falcons, owls, and motmots.
Gallery
File:Noctilio albiventris albiventris 1847.jpg, Noctilio albiventris diagram from Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny
File:Noctilio albiventris and Parasites.jpg, Noctilio albiventris with parasites, showing its teeth, caught at the
Tiputini Biodiversity Station
Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS) is a scientific field research center in the Ecuadorian Amazon. It was established in 1995 by Universidad San Francisco de Quito in collaboration with Boston University, and is jointly managed by them as a cente ...
See also
*
Bulldog 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, as well as at least one fossil species, '' Noctilio lacrimaelunaris'', from the Miocene ...