Peters sack-winged bat
| Peters sack-winged bat | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Balantiopteryx plicata | ||||||||||||
| ( Peters , 1867) |
The Peters sack-winged bat ( Balantiopteryx plicata ) is a species of bat from the family of the smooth-nosed free-tailed bat (Emballonuridae), which is native to Central America.
description
The Peters sac -winged bat belongs to the smooth-nosed cantilever bats , which have a sac-like structure in the flight membrane. In this type, this is located in the middle between the upper and lower arm. With a forearm length of over 38 mm and an average head-trunk length of 66.6 mm, the Peters sack-winged bat is the largest representative of the genus Balantiopteryx . The coat color varies between light gray and a rich brown, but is never dark brown. The flight membrane has a white border between the calcar and the fourth finger. The color of the males' winged sac varies seasonally and can change with age. In adult animals, the sack is light colored and filled with a liquid that is probably used for female advertising. The wing sac is only rudimentary in females . Males are on average lighter (6.1 g) than females (7.1 g).
Way of life
During the day, the Peters sack-winged bat lives in colonies of up to 2000 animals (an average of 25 individuals) in light-colored caves, mines, tree holes, buildings, under bridges and on cliffs. The colonies are made up of both males and females, with the relative proportions varying widely between colonies and probably between seasons. Unlike most bats , the animals keep a distance of about 20 cm from one another. The hanging place must have a humidity of at least 25%. The Peters sack-winged bat is a strict insect eater that opportunistically feeds on mosquitoes, flies and small butterflies. While foraging, the animals cover a distance of up to 11 km. Barn owls , coatis , dwarf spotted skunks and domestic cats have been observed as predators of the Peters sack-winged bat .
Reproduction
The mating season of the Peters sack-winged bat takes place between January and February, and females give birth to a single young from late June to mid-July. The wearing time of 4.5 months falls into the dry season. The young are already relatively well developed at birth, can fly from two weeks of age, but are suckled for nine weeks. During the first week after birth, the mother carries them around, while the following time they spend in the hanging place while the mother searches for food at night. The young animals leave the colony at the age of 2–3 months.
distribution and habitat
The eters sack-winged bat is widespread from western Mexico along the Pacific coast to Costa Rica , where it grows up to an altitude of 1500 m above sea level. M occurs. Its population is classified as safe by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) thanks to its widespread distribution and its occurrence in protected areas. However, it should be mentioned that with this species, too, the destruction of the habitat, especially the caves, by vandalism is of central importance.
Web links
Image of a Balantiopteryx plicata
literature
- J. Arroyo-Cabrales, K. Knox-Jones: Balantiopteryx plicata , Mammalian Species, No. 301 (1988): pp. 1-4
swell
- ^ JW Bradbury, SL Vehrencamp (1976): Social organization and foraging in Emballonurid bats. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 1-2
- ↑ Balantiopteryx plicata in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .