Dwarf bonneted bat

Species of bat

Dwarf bonneted bat
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Eumops
Species:
E. bonariensis
Binomial name
Eumops bonariensis
Shaw, 1800
Distribution of Eumops bonariensis

The dwarf bonneted bat, or Peters' mastiff bat, (Eumops bonariensis), is a bat species from South and Central America.

Description

As its common name implies, E. bonariensis is the smallest species of bonneted bat. Adults measure 9 to 13 cm (3.5 to 5.1 in) in total length, and typically weigh between 12 and 20 g (0.42 and 0.71 oz). However, there is a significant variation in size between the different subspecies, with the smallest, E. b. nanus, weighing as little as 7 g (0.25 oz).[2]

The fur is thick and silky, and ranges from cinnamon to dark chocolate brown, being noticeably paler on the underside of the body. The head has a broad snout with a fringe of stiff hairs on the upper lip, and long, wide, ears connected by a small membrane. The wing membranes are black, but are covered with sparse hairs close to the arms. Males have been observed to have glands on the throat that become enlarged during the breeding season.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Dwarf bonneted bats are found from southern Mexico through the whole of Central America, and in every country of South America except Chile. They inhabit a wide range of environments, from dense rainforest to dry thorny scrub. They are most commonly found in lowland habitats, but have been found as high as 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in Colombia. Up to four subspecies are recognised:[2]

  • Eumops bonariensis bonariensis - Uruguay and neighbouring regions of Brazil and Argentina
  • Eumops bonariensis beckeri - Peru, southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina
  • Eumops bonariensis delticus - northern Brazil, neighbouring regions of other countries
  • Eumops bonariensis nanus - Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas, and north to southern Mexico

However, E. b. beckeri is sometimes considered synonymous with the Patagonian bonneted bat.[1]

Biology

Dwarf bonneted bats feed on flying insects, primarily beetles and moths. They roost in small groups of up to twenty individuals, and are often found sleeping in the roofs of buildings. They are rapid fliers, often remaining high above the ground. They often make loud calls that are audible to humans. Breeding has been recorded from March to June in Mexico, and from October to November at the southern end of the bat's range. Females give birth to a single young.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Barquez, R.; Diaz, M.; Gonzalez, E. (2016). "Eumops bonariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T87993837A22026755. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T87993837A22026755.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Hunt, J.L.; et al. (2003). "Eumops bonariensis". Mammalian Species. 733: Number 733: pp. 1–5. doi:10.1644/733.
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Extant species of family Molossidae
Subfamily Molossinae
Chaerephon
(Lesser mastiff bats)
  • Duke of Abruzzi's free-tailed bat (C. aloysiisabaudiae)
  • C. atsinanana
  • Ansorge's free-tailed bat (C. ansorgei)
  • Gland-tailed free-tailed bat (C. bemmeleni)
  • Spotted free-tailed bat (C. bivittata)
  • Fijian mastiff bat (C. bregullae)
  • Chapin's free-tailed bat (C. chapini)
  • Gallagher's free-tailed bat (C. gallagheri)
  • Northern freetail bat (C. jobensis)
  • Red free-tailed bat (C. jobimena)
  • Northern free-tailed bat (C. johorensis)
  • Grandidier's free-tailed bat (C. leucogaster)
  • Lappet-eared free-tailed bat (C. major)
  • Nigerian free-tailed bat (C. nigeriae)
  • Wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat (C. plicata)
  • Little free-tailed bat (C. pumila)
  • Russet free-tailed bat (C. russata)
  • Solomons mastiff bat (C. solomonis)
  • São Tomé free-tailed bat (C. tomensis)
Cheiromeles
(Naked bats)
Cynomops
  • Cinnamon dog-faced bat (C. abrasus)
  • Freeman's dog-faced bat (C. freemani)
  • Greenhall's dog-faced bat (C. greenhalli)
  • Mexican dog-faced bat (C. mexicanus)
  • C. milleri
  • Para dog-faced bat (C. paranus)
  • Southern dog-faced bat (C. planirostris)
Eumops
(Mastiff bats)
  • Black bonneted bat (E. auripendulus)
  • Dwarf bonneted bat (E. bonariensis)
  • Big bonneted bat (E. dabbenei)
  • E. ferox
  • Florida bonneted bat (E. floridanus)
  • Wagner's bonneted bat (E. glaucinus)
  • Sanborn's bonneted bat (E. hansae)
  • Guianan bonneted bat (E. maurus)
  • E. nanus
  • Patagonian bonneted bat (E. patagonicus)
  • Western mastiff bat (E. perotis)
  • Colombian bonneted bat (E. trumbulli)
  • Underwood's bonneted bat (E. underwoodi)
  • E. wilsoni
Mormopterus
Subgenus Mormopterus
Natal free-tailed bat (M. acetabulosus)
M. francoismoutoui
Sumatran mastiff bat (M. doriae)
Peters's wrinkle-lipped bat (M. jugularis)
Kalinowski's mastiff bat (M. kalinowskii)
Little goblin bat (M. minutus)
Incan little mastiff bat (M. phrudus)
Subgenus Micronomus
East-coast free-tailed bat (M. norfolkensis)
Subgenus Ozimops
Beccari's free-tailed bat (M. beccarii)
M. halli
M. kitcheneri
M. loriae
M. lumsdenae
M. petersi
Southern free-tailed bat (M. planiceps)
Eastern free-tailed bat (M. ridei)
Subgenus Setirostris
M. eleryi
Molossops
(Broad-faced bats)
  • Equatorial dog-faced bat (M. (Cabreramops) aequatorianus)
  • Mato Grosso dog-faced bat (M. mattogrossensis)
  • Rufous dog-faced bat (M. neglectus)
  • Dwarf dog-faced bat (M. temminckii)
Molossus
(Velvety free-tailed bats)
  • Aztec mastiff bat (M. aztecus)
  • M. barnesi
  • Coiban mastiff bat (M. coibensis)
  • Bonda mastiff bat (M. currentium)
  • Velvety free-tailed bat (M. molossus)
  • Miller's mastiff bat (M. pretiosus)
  • Black mastiff bat (M. rufus)
  • Sinaloan mastiff bat (M. sinaloae)
  • M. trinitatus
Mops
(Greater mastiff bats)
Subgenus Xiphonycteris
Spurrell's free-tailed bat (M. spurrelli)
Dwarf free-tailed bat (M. nanulus)
Peterson's free-tailed bat (M. petersoni)
M. leonis
Sierra Leone free-tailed bat (M. brachyptera)
M. bakarii
Railer bat (M. thersites)
Subgenus Mops
Angolan free-tailed bat (M. condylurus)
White-bellied free-tailed bat (M. niveiventer)
Mongalla free-tailed bat (M. demonstrator)
Malayan free-tailed bat (M. mops)
Sulawesi free-tailed bat (M. sarasinorum)
Trevor's free-tailed bat (M. trevori)
M. congica
Midas free-tailed bat (M. midas)
Niangara free-tailed bat (M. niangarae)
Medje free-tailed bat (M. congicus)
M. leucostigma
Myopterus
  • Daubenton's free-tailed bat (M. daubentonii)
  • Bini free-tailed bat (M. whitleyi)
Neoplatymops
  • Mato Grosso dog-faced bat (N. mattogrossensis)
Nyctinomops
(New World
free-tailed bats)
  • Peale's free-tailed bat (N. aurispinosus)
  • Pocketed free-tailed bat (N. femorosaccus)
  • Broad-eared bat (N. laticaudatus)
  • Big free-tailed bat (N. macrotis)
Otomops
(Big-eared
free-tailed bats)
  • Javan mastiff bat (O. formosus)
  • Harrison's large-eared giant mastiff bat (O. harrisoni)
  • Johnstone's mastiff bat (O. johnstonei)
  • Madagascar free-tailed bat (O. madagascariensis)
  • Large-eared free-tailed bat (O. martiensseni)
  • Big-eared mastiff bat (O. papuensis)
  • Mantled mastiff bat (O. secundus)
  • Wroughton's free-tailed bat (O. wroughtoni)
Platymops
  • Peters's flat-headed bat (P. setiger)
Promops
(Domed-palate
mastiff bats)
  • Big crested mastiff bat (P. centralis)
  • P. davisoni
  • Brown mastiff bat (P. nasutus)
Sauromys
  • Roberts's flat-headed bat (S. petrophilus)
Tadarida
(Free-tailed bats)
  • Egyptian free-tailed bat (T. aegyptiaca)
  • White-striped free-tailed bat (T. australis)
  • Mexican free-tailed bat (T. brasiliensis)
  • Madagascan large free-tailed bat (T. fulminans)
  • European free-tailed bat (T. insignis)
  • New Guinea free-tailed bat (T. kuboriensis)
  • La Touche's free-tailed bat (T. latouchei)
  • Kenyan big-eared free-tailed bat (T. lobata)
  • European free-tailed bat (T. teniotis)
  • African giant free-tailed bat (T. ventralis)
Subfamily Tomopeatinae
Tomopeas
  • Blunt-eared bat (T. ravus)
Taxon identifiers
Eumops bonariensis