Little bulldog bat
| Little bulldog bat | ||||||||||||
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Lesser bulldog bat ( Chaerephon pumilus ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Chaerephon pumilus | ||||||||||||
| ( Cretzschmar , 1826) |
The small bulldog bat ( Chaerephon pumilus , syn .: Tadarida pumila ) is a species of bat from the family of bulldog bats (Molossidae), which is native to Africa. The generic name Chaerephon refers to Socrates ' friend , who is described in the comedy "Aves" by Aristophanes as "Chaerephon, the bat". The species name pumilus comes from Latin and means "dwarf".
description
The small bulldog bat is one of the smallest free-tailed bats with a total length of 54 to 102 mm. The fur is dark brown to black and lighter on the belly than on the back. At the base of the wing there are often whitish hairs, and this species also has light-colored bristles on the toes. The ears are round and relatively large compared to the head. The small bulldog bat differs from other free-tailed bats by its small size and the lack of a lobe inside the ear. The average weight is 11.2 g.
Way of life
During the day the animals hang in tree holes, caves, crevices and houses, where they are often found in large numbers. Both small groups of 5 to 20 animals and large colonies with several hundred individuals were observed. Chaerephon pumilus often shares its roost with other species of bulldog bats , such as Pug condylurus . Often in trees in which the little bulldog bat hangs you can also find palm swift , a bird species with a similar food spectrum.
Lesser bulldog bat colonies consist of multiple harems, with the largest males owning the harems with the most females. Most adult animals remain loyal to their harem and change between colonies is rare.
About an hour before the trip, colonies get restless and noisy. The excursion takes place in small groups in the first hour after sunset, with the male harem often flying out first. If predators are present, the bats synchronize the flight and spread out in as many directions as possible to confuse the predator. Well-known predators of the lesser bulldog bat are the bat male , the tree hawk and the African hawk .
nutrition
The little bulldog bat hunts for insects with soft bodies in rapid flight at night. Much of the diet consists of ground bugs , beetles , butterflies , mosquitoes and jumping fright . When hunting, the bats are apparently attracted to water holes, especially in the dry season, probably because there are more insects near the water. Chaerephon pumilus can swim in case it falls into the water. The wings of Chaerephon pumilus are long and narrow and therefore optimally adapted to fast flying. The folded lips are folded outwards during the flight and are likely to increase the success of the catch. The hunt does not take place in groups and usually at a height of over 70 m above the ground.
Reproduction
Females of the lesser bulldog bat become sexually mature in the mating season after their birth at the age of 5 to 12 months. She comes into oestrus several times a year and can give birth at least three times a year. The wearing time is between 60 and 72 days, depending on the region. Young animals are born hairless and suckled for 2–3 weeks.
distribution and habitat
The distribution of the lesser bulldog bat extends in western Africa from Senegal to Nigeria , in the west from Eritrea and Yemen via South Sudan , Kenya , Uganda , Congo , Zambia , Mozambique to the east of South Africa and west Angola . In Madagascar it occurs in coastal regions, mainly in the western and northern halves. Thanks to its widespread use, the IUCN classifies its population as stable and safe. However, this species could be endangered locally as humans control them as pests due to their presence in buildings.
Taxonomic note
Currently, the discussion of whether the genres of the free tail bats ( Chaerephon ) and the tadarida ( Tadarida ) to be combined into a single genre. The IUCN therefore carries all representatives of the genus Chaerephon as Tadarida until further notice , whereby the Latin species names in the ending are adapted to the female genus name.
Web links
literature
- S. Bouchard (1998): Chaerephon pumilus , Mammalian Species, No. 574: pp. 1-6
swell
- ↑ Chaerephon pumilus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .
- ^ NB Simmons (2005): Order Chiroptera. In: Mammal Species of the World, pp. 312-529. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.