Thomas spur sheath tail
| Thomas spur sheath tail | ||||||||||||
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| Centronycteris centralis | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1912 |
The Thomas spur sheath tail ( Centronycteris centralis ) is a bat in the family of smooth-nosed free-tailed tails , which occurs in Central and South America. For a long time the population was synonymous with the common spur sheath tail ( Centronycteris maximiliani ). It has been recognized as a species since 1998 .
features
The head-torso length is usually 49 to 59 mm, the tail is 20 to 24 mm long and the length of the forearms is 43 to 49 mm. The Thomas spur sheath tail has 7 to 9 mm long hind feet, 17 to 19 mm long ears and a weight of 5 to 6 g. In some specimens from Costa Rica , the tail was sometimes significantly longer with a length of up to 40 mm. The shaggy yellow fur contrasts with the black flight skins . The area of the tail skin near the body is hairy. The head is characterized by a bare, flesh-colored face and large, sickle-shaped ears. A sack-shaped bulge on the wings, which occurs in various other family members, is absent.
The Thomas spur sheath tail differs from its sister species in that there are some deviations in the structure of the skull and teeth. In contrast to the common spur sheath tail, the species has no significant swelling on the rostrum . Furthermore, only the Thomas spur sheath tail has a notch on the rear edge of the palate .
distribution
The distribution area of the species extends from southern Mexico through other Central American states to western Venezuela and the border area between Peru and Bolivia . The Thomas spur sheath tail could be registered in the lowlands as well as in the hill country up to a height of 500 meters. The species lives in primeval rainforests , in partially deciduous forests and in secondary forests .
Way of life
During the day, this bat rests in tree hollows or on tree trunks. It hunts mainly in the evening and, like closely related species, has a slow flight. The same route is often passed several times during the hunt. Remains of soft insects were mainly found in the stomachs of specimens examined. The Thomas spur sheath probably plucks the prey from parts of the plant or it catches it with the help of the flight membrane. Several females caught in May were pregnant.
Systematics
The Thomas spur sheath tail is a separate species of the genus Centronycteris , which consists of only two species. The first scientific description of the species was made by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas , who described it using a fully-grown male from the Chiriquí province in Panama.
status
The species is rare in the entire range. Deforestation is likely to only have a locally negative effect. There are no serious hazards for the entire population. The IUCN lists the Thomas spur sheath tail as not endangered (Least Concern) .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Centronycteris centralis ).
- ↑ a b c d Centronycteris centralis in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2016. Posted by: Arroyo-Cabrales, J., Miller, B., Reid, F., Cuarón, AD & de Grammont, PC, 2015. Retrieved on 23rd August 2017.
- ^ A b c Reid, Fiona (Ed.): A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico . Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 76-77 (English, Shaggy Bat ).
- ^ A b Neal Woodman (2003): New Record of the Rare Centronycteris centralis , Caribbean Journal of Science, Vol. 39, no. 3, sid.399-402
- ↑ Simmons, Nancy B .; Handley, Charles O. 1998: A revision of Centronycteris Gray (Chiroptera, Emballonuridae) with notes on natural history . In: American Museum novitates; no. 3239 online
- ↑ Oldfield Thomas : New Centronycteris and Ctenomys from S. America. The Annals and magazine of natural history; Zoology, Botany, and Geology Vol. 10, series 8, 1912; Pp. 638-640. ( Digitized version )