Jump to content

Pocketed free-tailed bat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pocketed free-tailed bat
Secure
Secure (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Placentalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Nyctinomops
Species:
N. femorosaccus
Binomial name
Nyctinomops femorosaccus
(Merriam, 1899)

The pocketed free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae found in Mexico and in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States. They resemble the Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis).They are recognized as "least concern" by the IUCN and as "apparently secure" by Natureserve.[3]

At a bat rescue center in Arizona.

Characteristics

[edit]

The pocketed free-tailed bat shares similar features with the Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) but is larger in size. The name is derived from a skin fold stretching from the medial side of the femur to the middle of the tibia. This fold produces a shallow pocket on the underside of the interfemoral membrane in the vicinity of the knee. Some defining characteristics include: Ears joined at the midline; second phalanx of the 4th digit is less than 5mm; anterior part of hard palate narrowly excised; upper incisors placed close together with longitudinal axes nearly parallel.[4]

The pocketed free-tailed bat has a large broad head with grooved lips. The face has many stiff hairs with spoonlike tips. The ears are thick and leathery with the presence of a dominant tragus. Body dimensions: body length~112mm; feet~10mm; tail~46mm; ears~23mm; forearms~46mm. Body mass range is 10–14 g (0.35–0.49 oz).[5]

Habitat and ecology

[edit]

Like many other bats, this species is insectivorous; they eat a variety of insects including Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Diptera, and Neuroptera. One research article showed that because of the limited flight maneuverability of the pocketed free-tailed bat compared with the Brazilian free-tailed bat the latter is better able to prey upon beetles. It also showed that the insect species diet for the pocketed free-tailed bats varies with season. In June and July, Lepidoptera accounted for the greatest volume of prey while diets in September and March consisting mostly of Hemiptera[6] In the dry season, they seek drinking water from various open access water sources. The roosts are located in caves, crevices, mines, tunnels, and man-made structures [7] with colony sizes less than 100 individuals.[1]

Reproduction

[edit]

Like some other bats, pocketed free-tailed bats exhibit delayed fertilization. They mate just prior to ovulation in the spring.[8] Their young are born in early July. The gestation period is about 70 to 90 days and when the young are finally born, they weigh 3-4 grams, or about 22% of the adult weight.[9] This new generation is able to fly within 1-1.5 months[10]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Arroyo-Cabrales, J.; Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. (2015). "Nyctinomops femorosaccus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015 e.T14994A22010542. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T14994A22010542.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ NatureServe. "Nyctinomops femorosaccus". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia.
  3. ↑ Goodenough, Anne E. (2012). "Differences in two species-at-risk classification schemes for North American mammals" (PDF). Journal for Nature Conservation. 20 (2): 117–124. Bibcode:2012JNatC..20..117G. doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.11.001.
  4. ↑ "Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops femorosacca)". Texas Parks and Wildlife. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Lancaster, Eric (17 February 2000). "Nyctinomops femorosaccus Pocketed Free-tailed Bat". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Matthews, A. K.; Neiswenter, S. A.; Ammerman, L. K. (2010). "Trophic Ecology of the Free-tailed Bats Nyctinomops femorosaccus and Tadarida brasiliensis (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in Big Bend National Park, Texas". The Southwestern Naturalist. 55 (3). Southwestern Association of Naturalists: 340–346, Table 1. Bibcode:2010SWNat..55..340M. doi:10.1894/JKF-08.1. S2CID 34585778.
  7. ↑ Melanie Bucci; Yar Petryszyn; Paul R. Krausman (2011). "Bat Occurrence and Use of Archaeological Sites at Three National Monuments in Central Arizona". Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. 43 (1). Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science: 1–5. JSTOR 41510539.
  8. ↑ "Insectivorous Bats". National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Grzimek, Bernhard (1990). Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals Volume 3. McGraw-Hill Publishing. ISBN 978-0-07-909508-4.
  10. ↑ Wilson, D.E.; Ruff, S. (1999). Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pocketed_free-tailed_bat&oldid=1363142639"