Lesser Bulldog Bat
Encyclopedia
The Lesser Bulldog Bat (Noctilio albiventris) is an insectivorous and occasionally carnivorous bat
of the (Neotropics), ranging through Central America
and northern South America
.
These bats are reddish brown in color. They have a length of about three inches (7.5 cm), a forearm length of 2½ inches (6 cm), and weight of about one ounce (30 grams). The bats usually live near water or damp locations, residing in hollow trees or domestic dwellings. They attempt to capture by echolocation
insect
s flying near the surface of water. The bats also have the ability to capture insects that fall onto the water surface. Occasionally, the larger bats catch and consume small fish
(the most closely related species, the Greater Bulldog Bat
, is known for its fishing ability).
They live about ten years and reach sexual maturity in one year.
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
of the (Neotropics), ranging through Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and northern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
These bats are reddish brown in color. They have a length of about three inches (7.5 cm), a forearm length of 2½ inches (6 cm), and weight of about one ounce (30 grams). The bats usually live near water or damp locations, residing in hollow trees or domestic dwellings. They attempt to capture by echolocation
Animal echolocation
Echolocation, also called biosonar, is the biological sonar used by several kinds of animals.Echolocating animals emit calls out to the environment and listen to the echoes of those calls that return from various objects near them. They use these echoes to locate and identify the objects...
insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s flying near the surface of water. The bats also have the ability to capture insects that fall onto the water surface. Occasionally, the larger bats catch and consume small fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
(the most closely related species, the Greater Bulldog Bat
Greater Bulldog Bat
The greater bulldog bat or fisherman bat is a type of fishing bat native to Latin America. The bat uses echolocation to detect water ripples made by the fish upon which it preys, then uses the pouch between its legs to scoop the fish up and its sharp claws to catch and cling to it...
, is known for its fishing ability).
They live about ten years and reach sexual maturity in one year.