Western bulldog bat
| Western bulldog bat | ||||||||||||
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Western bulldog bat ( Eumops perotis ) |
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| Eumops perotis | ||||||||||||
| ( Schinz , 1821) |
The western bulldog bat ( Eumops perotis ) is a species of bat belonging to the family of bulldog bats and is native to North and South America. It is the largest bat in the United States . The species name “perotis” is derived from the Greek “per” (through, complete) and “ota” (ear).
description
The western bulldog bat is the largest known bulldog bat with a forearm length of 73 to 83 mm and a total length of 157 to 184 mm . The males are slightly larger than the females. The weight is 45–73 g. The western bulldog bat is darker in color than its sister species Eumops underwoodi, which is also found in the USA . The color of the coat varies from dark gray to brown-gray to chocolate brown, with the belly being lighter and often the white base of the hair being visible. The lower lip is very hairy and wrinkled. There is a small gland directly under each eye. The ears are connected in the middle, relatively long and, when put forward, protrude beyond the muzzle. The tail protrudes far beyond the tail membrane. The wings of the western bulldog bat are narrow and long, and thus adapted to fast, long flying. The flight skin is leathery and relatively thick. Males have a gland on their throat that enlarges during the mating season and produces a thick, oily substance. It is likely to be used during courtship to attract females with its scent.
Way of life
The western bulldog bat , like most bats, is nocturnal and feeds primarily on insects. Flying insects with relatively soft, large bodies (e.g. moths) are preferred. The body temperature is 34–35 ° C, during the day the animals often go into torpor , but probably do not hibernate . Colonies of fewer than 100 individuals are mostly found in roofs, crevices and other higher hiding places, as they need a minimum height of 2 meters to be able to fly. Cubs are born during the summer, with females being out of sync within a colony and giving birth to only one cub at a time. In contrast to the smooth-nosed species (Vespertilionidae) of North America, the males only become reproductively active in spring. Unlike other bulldog bats , the western bulldog bat does not have a penis bone .
distribution
The western bulldog bat occurs in two geographically separated populations. The northern population extends from the southwestern United States to southern Mexico , while the southern population extends from Panama to Argentina . The species is classified as harmless by the IUCN thanks to its abundance and wide distribution, but the populations are declining.
Web links
literature
- Best, TL; Kiser, WM; Freeman, PW 1996: Eumops perotis. In: Mammalian Species . No. 534, pp. 1-8.