The fringe-lipped bat (''Trachops cirrhosus'') is a

leaf-nosed bat The New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are bats (order Chiroptera) found from southern North America to South America, specifically from the Southwest United States to northern Argentina. Both the scientific and common names derive from ...

from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. It has three

subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...

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 December 4, 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, habitat refers to the array of resources, 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 manifestation of its ...

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 regularly consumes significant quantities of both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize t ...

, 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''. It sometimes shares roosts with other species of bats. It is sometimes preyed upon by gray four-eyed opossums.

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 semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

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 File:Trachops original.jpg, Fringe-lipped Bat (Trachops cirrhosus) being held by a researcher

References

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