Rabbits
Rabbits | ||||||||||||
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Noctilio leporinus |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name of the family | ||||||||||||
Noctilionidae | ||||||||||||
JE Gray , 1821 | ||||||||||||
Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
Noctilio | ||||||||||||
Linnaeus , 1766 |
The rabbit-mouths or rabbit- mouth bats ( Noctilionidae) are a family of bats (Microchiroptera) restricted to America . They are one of the few bats that feed on fish . The family includes a genus Noctilio with two species, the big hare's mouth ( N. leporinus ) and the little hare's mouth ( N. albiventris ).
distribution
The distribution area of both species extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina , the big hare's mouth is also native to the Antilles and the Bahamas .
description
The face of these bats is characterized by full, wrinkled lips. Similar to the rabbit , the upper lip is split. Elastic cheeks form cheek pockets in which food can be stowed. The nose is at a point high up on the head, a nasal sheet is missing. The ears are narrow and pointed, there is a small tragus .
The sexes differ in the color of their fur: while the males are colored yellowish or orange-red, the females are darker, more brownish. The underside of all animals is lighter. The wings are narrow and elongated; the tail is relatively long, its end protruding from the uropatagium (the flight membrane between the legs). The big hare's mouth in particular has long hind legs with large feet, the toes of which are equipped with claws. These modifications represent a special adaptation to the fish-catching way of life. The smell of these animals is described as strong, musky or fish-like. The big hare's mouth reaches a head body length of 10 to 13 centimeters and a weight of 50 to 90 grams, the little hare's mouth a head body length of 6 to 9 centimeters and a weight of 20 to 45 grams.
Way of life
Rabbits' mouths inhabit different habitats, but almost always in the vicinity of water. They use caves, crevices, tree hollows and rarely buildings as sleeping places. They sleep in groups of 30 to 75 animals during the day and foraging in smaller groups at night. Their flight is stiff and slow, but they can swim well. When they fall into the water, they use their wings as oars.
food
The big hare's mouth is one of the few bat species that also eat fish. Groups of five to fifteen animals fly in a zigzag course over the surface of the water. They use echolocation to determine the position and speed of the fish. They cannot locate the fish underwater, but as soon as they have briefly jumped out of the water, they fly to the calculated position and comb the water surface with their long, clawed toes. In this way they catch small fish (up to eight centimeters in length) with their hind legs and carry them to their mouth, where they either eat them immediately or return to a resting place to eat in peace. In addition to fish, they also eat crabs , scorpions and insects living on the ground .
There are no observations in the wild about fishing for the Little Rabbit, but captive animals have caught fish in a manner similar to that of their large relatives. However, studies of the stomach contents of these animals suggest that insects make up the majority of the diet.
Reproduction
Rabbits give birth to a single young once a year. The time of birth is synchronized for the females in a group so that all give birth almost simultaneously. At birth, the females form nurseries in which they separate from the males. Young animals are suckled for around three months. The life expectancy of these animals is estimated at up to 12 years.
threat
Both species are considered common and are not on the endangered species list.
Systematics
Hare mouths are closely related to leaf noses (Phyllostomidae) and chin-leaf bats (Mormoopidae), with which they form the group of hare- mouthed bats (Noctilionoidea). Fossil finds of ancestors are rare, so far only remains of today's species from the late Pleistocene have been found in Cuba and Puerto Rico .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0801857899