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Big free-tailed bat

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Big free-tailed bat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Nyctinomops
Species:
N. macrotis
Binomial name
Nyctinomops macrotis
(Gray, 1839)
Synonyms
  • Nyctinomus macrotis Gray, 1839

The big free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops macrotis) is a bat species found in South, North and Central America.

Taxonomy

It was described as a new species in 1839 by British zoologist John Edward Gray. Gray placed it in the now-defunct genus Nyctinomus, with a binomial of Nyctinomus macrotis. The holotype had been collected in Cuba by William Sharp Macleay.[2]

Description

It is the largest member of Nyctinomops,[3] with an average forearm length of 60 mm (2.4 in).[4] Individuals weigh approximately 20.6 g (0.73 oz). It has a wingspan of 417–436 mm (16.4–17.2 in). Its fur is glossy and variable in color, ranging from pale, reddish brown to dark brown or blackish.[4] Its dental formula is 1.1.2.32.1.2.3 for a total of 30 teeth.[3]

Biology and ecology

Based on its wing morphology, it likely has a rapid flight. Its flight speed could exceed 40 km/h (25 mph).[4]

Range and habitat

Its range includes many countries in North, Central, and South America. Specific countries that it inhabits include: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Suriname, the United States, and Venezuela. It is possibly also found in Uruguay.[1] The individuals documented in Canada and the U.S. states of Iowa and Kansas are considered vagrants or extralimital records. However, the species occurs as a non-vagrant in the U.S. states of Texas, California, Nevada, and Utah.[4] It has been documented at a range of elevations from sea level to 2,600 m (8,500 ft) above sea level.[1]

Conservation

As of 2015, it is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCN, which is its lowest conservation priority. It meets the criteria for this assessment because it has a large geographic range; it is unlikely to be experiencing rapid population decline; and its population is presumably large.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Barquez, R.; Diaz, M.; Arroyo-Cabrales, J. (2015). "Nyctinomops macrotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T14996A97207443. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T14996A22010988.en. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help) {{cite iucn}}: error: |doi= / |page= mismatch (help)
  2. ^ Gray, John Edward (1839). "I.—Descriptions of some Mammalia discovered in Cuba by W. S. MacLeay, Esq. With some account of their Habits, extracted from Mr. Mac Leay's notes". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 4 (21): 1–7. doi:10.1080/00222934009512443.
  3. ^ a b Gardner, A. L. (2008). Mammals of South America, Volume 1: Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats. Vol. 1. University of Chicago Press. p. 433–434. ISBN 978-0226282428.
  4. ^ a b c d Milner, Janie; Jones, Clyde; Jones, J. Knox (1990). "Nyctinomops macrotis". Mammalian Species (351): 1–4. doi:10.2307/3504187. JSTOR 3504187.
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