American ghost bats
| American ghost bats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Diclidurus | ||||||||||||
| Wied-Neuwied , 1820 |
The American ghost bats ( Diclidurus ) belong to the only light gray to white bats along with the white bat . They are native to the tropics of Central and South America.
description
In contrast to other members of the family of the smooth-nosed cantilever (Emballonuridae), bats of the genus Diclidurus have no pockets on their wings, but rather have a gland-like structure in the form of a pocket in the middle of the tail skin . The generic name Diclidurus is derived from the Greek diklís, diklídos ("two-winged"), which refers to the two-part structure of the pocket in the tail skin. American ghost bats reach a head-to-trunk length of 50 to 80 mm. The eyes are large and the ears short and round. The short thumb has only a rudimentary claw that is partially covered by the flight membrane. All species of American ghost bats fly relatively high and can therefore hardly be caught with the usual ground-level nets. Therefore, with the exception of the widespread Diclidurus albus, little research has been done on the species .
Types and distribution
- Diclidurus albus ( Wied-Neuwied , 1820)
- Diclidurus ingens ( Hernandez-Camacho , 1955)
- Diclidurus isabellus ( Thomas , 1920)
- Diclidurus scutatus ( Peters , 1869)
Distribution area of Diclidurus albus
Distribution area of Diclidurus ingens
Distribution area of Diclidurus isabellus
Distribution area of Diclidurus scutatus
habitat
All species of the American ghost bat are mostly found near streams or in other humid areas. While Diclidurus albus is a relatively commonly observed species, few individuals of the other species have ever been caught. Accordingly, little is known about their way of life and the dangers they pose. While Diclidurus albus is native to Central and South America, Diclidurus ingens , Diclidurus isabellus and Diclidurus scutatus are only found in northern South America.
literature
- RM Nowak: Walker's Bats of the World , Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr., ISBN 0-8018-4986-1 , p. 99 f.
