Spectral Bat
Encyclopedia
The Spectral Bat is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat
. Some alternate names for this species are the False Vampire Bat, Linnaeus's False Vampire Bat and the Spectral Vampire Bat. Confusingly, they are not related to the Old World
family of large carnivorous bats to be found in the Megadermatidae
that are also called false vampires.
and the largest carnivorous bat in the world, having a wingspan of eighty centimeters or so (almost three feet) and a body length and weight of 125–135 millimeters and 145–190 grams respectively, though larger specimens with wingspans of over one hundred centimeters are not unknown. The ears are very long and rounded. There is no discernible tail, but the tail membrane is long and broad. The large feet are robust, with long curved claws. The muzzle is long and narrow, and the teeth are strong with the upper canines being well developed. The skull is robust and has a well-developed sagittal crest
which projects pass the foramen magnum. The noseleaf is medium-sized, lance-shaped, horseshoe and spear with continuous rim raised to form a hollow cup around the nostrils. The fur on the dorsal region is long, soft and is reddish brown in color. The fur on the underside is shorter and paler. The spectral bat is a fairly agile and powerful flier. It has been described as flying "at low speeds in crowded flight spaces, maneuvering deftly, perhaps often landing to make captures, and having the low speed lift capabilities to carry off large prey items". When in flight, spectral bats produce pulses of 1.5-1.8 milliseconds. The terminal phase of echolocation seems to be very short, being 0.5 msec or less. It is likely this species uses short pulses of low intensities because it flies close to obstacles and near the ground. It appears that spectral bats can discriminate between two similar targets.
). A least one adult male or older offspring will remain in the roost with the most recently born juvenile, while the other bats in the group go out to forage. Foragers may return to the roost with prey and the energy content of these prey may exceed the needs of a solitary forager. Thus, it is likely that both the adults and the older offspring will guard the young and provision them with food. The foraging habits of the spectral bat apparently involves an extended period of time during which the young learn to forage. With the extended time in which parents are involved with their young and the provision of adult to offspring is what drove the selection for monogamy in this species.
Leaf-nosed bat
The New World leaf-nosed bats are found throughout Central and South America, from Mexico to northern Argentina. They are ecologically the most varied and diverse family within the order Chiroptera...
. Some alternate names for this species are the False Vampire Bat, Linnaeus's False Vampire Bat and the Spectral Vampire Bat. Confusingly, they are not related to the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
family of large carnivorous bats to be found in the Megadermatidae
Megadermatidae
Megadermatidae, or False Vampire Bats, are a family of bats found from central Africa, eastwards through southern Asia, and into Australia. They are relatively large bats, ranging from 6.5 cm to 14 cm in head-body length. They have large eyes, very large ears and a prominent nose-leaf. They have a...
that are also called false vampires.
Description
This species is the largest bat in the New WorldNew World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
and the largest carnivorous bat in the world, having a wingspan of eighty centimeters or so (almost three feet) and a body length and weight of 125–135 millimeters and 145–190 grams respectively, though larger specimens with wingspans of over one hundred centimeters are not unknown. The ears are very long and rounded. There is no discernible tail, but the tail membrane is long and broad. The large feet are robust, with long curved claws. The muzzle is long and narrow, and the teeth are strong with the upper canines being well developed. The skull is robust and has a well-developed sagittal crest
Sagittal crest
A sagittal crest is a ridge of bone running lengthwise along the midline of the top of the skull of many mammalian and reptilian skulls, among others....
which projects pass the foramen magnum. The noseleaf is medium-sized, lance-shaped, horseshoe and spear with continuous rim raised to form a hollow cup around the nostrils. The fur on the dorsal region is long, soft and is reddish brown in color. The fur on the underside is shorter and paler. The spectral bat is a fairly agile and powerful flier. It has been described as flying "at low speeds in crowded flight spaces, maneuvering deftly, perhaps often landing to make captures, and having the low speed lift capabilities to carry off large prey items". When in flight, spectral bats produce pulses of 1.5-1.8 milliseconds. The terminal phase of echolocation seems to be very short, being 0.5 msec or less. It is likely this species uses short pulses of low intensities because it flies close to obstacles and near the ground. It appears that spectral bats can discriminate between two similar targets.
Distribution and habitat
The spectral bat ranges from Veracruz, Mexico, southward to the island of Trinidad, central Brazil and Peru. It appears that the bat is restricted to Neotropical forest regions elevations ranging from sea level to 1,650 m. This species seems to prefer to live in lowlands and foothills, streamsides, evergreen forests, yards and swamps. Because of its carnivorous diet and large size, the spectral bat has a ecological niche unique among bat species. The spectral bat is list as Near Threatened by the IUCN "due to its dependence on primary forest habitat and is rare and dispersed anywhere it is found, making it extremely susceptible to habitat fragmentation and population decline". There are no major threats throughout its range but local threats include habitat fragmentation and destruction.Diet and hunting
The spectral bat is carnivorous, feeding on birds, rodent and even other bats. With regards to avian prey, this species prefers to hunt birds that weigh between 20 and 150 grams (g), sleep in foliage rather than in holes or burrows, and either roost communally or have a strong body odor. In one bat roost, the remains of 84 birds from 18 species were found. Non-passerines seem to be significantly preferred over passerines. When hunting, spectral bats use scent moreso than sight or echolocation to trace prey. One bat was recorded using nearby rivers as flyways to move between foraging areas on the edges of forests and tree clumps in pastures. Upon locating prey, a bat will stalk it from above before striking. The spectral bat is a slow and careful stalker and is more often successful in capturing bat than otherwise. When attacking, the bat drops down on the prey and graps it by the head near the snout or beak and its long canine teeth will sink into the skull. With the prey between its jaws, the bat then flys back to its roost. When feeding, the bat holds and steadies its prey with its thumb claws and masticates it.Group life
Hollow trees are the most common roosting sites for this species. Bats may roost solitarily or in small groups. It appears that births are limited to a single young at the end of the dry season or the beginning of the rainy season. Overall, little is known about the reproductive cycle of this species. The spectral bat is perhaps the only bat species that forms long-term pair-bonds and lives in extended family groups. Adults pairs will roost together in the same hollow tree for over a year and their offspring of three reproductions may remain with their parents. The spectral bat is one of only two species that shows evidence of male parental care (the other being the yellow-winged batYellow-winged bat
The Yellow-winged bat is one of five species of false vampire bat from Africa.-Description:The yellow-winged bat has a total length of 58-80 mm and a body weight of 28-36 g. Females tend to be slightly larger than males. The wingspan averages 36 cm...
). A least one adult male or older offspring will remain in the roost with the most recently born juvenile, while the other bats in the group go out to forage. Foragers may return to the roost with prey and the energy content of these prey may exceed the needs of a solitary forager. Thus, it is likely that both the adults and the older offspring will guard the young and provision them with food. The foraging habits of the spectral bat apparently involves an extended period of time during which the young learn to forage. With the extended time in which parents are involved with their young and the provision of adult to offspring is what drove the selection for monogamy in this species.
In popular culture
- In the book SilverwingSilverwing (novel)Silverwing is a best-selling children's novel, written by Kenneth Oppel, first published in 1997 by HarperCollins. It tells the story of a colony of silverwing bats. The tone and artistic ambition of this series of bestsellers has been compared to the classic animal novel Watership Down...
the main antagonistAntagonistAn antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
, Goth, and his partner, Throbb, are of the race Vampyrum spectrum. This is repeatedly told in the book and its successors in the series and is also stated by the author (Kenneth Oppel) on the Silverwing Web site.