Miller velvet bat
| Miller velvet bat | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Molossus pretiosus | ||||||||||||
| GS Miller , 1902 |
The Miller velvet bat ( Molossus pretiosus ) is a species of bat from the family of bulldog bats (Molossidae). The Latin epithet pretiosus means "of great value". The species occurs in Central America as well as in northern South America.
description
Like all species of the genus Molossus, the Miller velvet bat is very strongly built, has very thick and short jaws and narrow wing tips. The species reaches a body length of around eleven centimeters, of which around four centimeters are attributable to the tail, and a weight of 21 to 29 grams. The skull is short and wide, the dentition consists of 26 teeth. Fresh after the coat change, the fur is blackish to black on the top and a little lighter on the underside. With increasing wear and tear, the fur turns dark red-brown to reddish orange and then replaced by black fur when the fur changes. The reddish coloration of the hair is probably caused by the breakdown of the black dye in the hair. The ears and the flight skin are colored black. The two sexes differ mainly in size and weight, males are on average larger and heavier.
distribution and habitat
The range of the Miller velvet bat extends from Nicaragua in the north to Colombia , Venezuela and Guyana in the south. In Colombia, isolated populations live in the river valleys of the Río Cauca and the Río Magdalena and in some mountain valleys of the Andes .
The species inhabits largely unforested areas such as grass savannas , open woodland and scrubland with thorn bushes and cacti.
Way of life
The Miller velvet bat transmits in small colonies. The species of the genus Molossus use palm leaves, hollow trees and caves as day quarters , but also human structures such as roofs and bridges. Molossus pretiosus' day quarters have so far been found in a cave, in a church roof and in a hollow tree. The species was observed when hunting relatively low above natural and man-made bodies of water, but also high above a coffee plantation. According to excrement tests, night butterflies and beetles serve as food.
Diseases and parasites
The only internal parasites have been able to protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma subgenus Schizotrypanum be detected. Ectoparasites are not yet known.
Systematics
No genetic differences were found between the Miller velvet bat and Molossus ater in 1989. M. pretiosus is still regarded as a separate species, as it is reproductively isolated from M. ater , although the distribution areas of the two species partially overlap. Furthermore, there are significant differences in size between the two species. Molossus currentium only differs from these two species in one species-specific allele .
In Central America the genus was between several types Molossus including Molossus pretiosus to some extent hybridizations identified.
Existence and endangerment
There is no information on population size or population trends ; Molossus pretiosus is described as not very frequent overall. According to the IUCN, the world population is considered to be not endangered (“least concern”) due to its large distribution area and the apparently relatively high adaptability to changes in habitat.
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literature
- Jason B. Jennings, Troy L. Best , Jennifer C. Rainey, Stephanie E. Burnett: Molossus pretiosus . In: Mammalian Species . No. 635 , 2000, pp. 1-3 .
Web links
- Molossus pretiosus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: Pineda, W. & Medina, A., 2008. Accessed October 16 of 2010.