Tailed Tailless Bat
Encyclopedia
The tailed tailless bat, Anoura caudifer, is a species
of leaf-nosed bat
from South America
.
and of the ICZN
rules on the naming of species. When Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
first described the bat in 1818, he used the species name "caudifer", and this is the name currently preferred by such influential sources as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Mammal Species of the World
.
The common name of the bat is typically given as the "tailed tailless bat". This is because the species belongs to the genus Anoura
, commonly called the "tailless bats", yet it itself possesses a tail. However, the name is arguably somewhat misleading, since only three of the other seven species of "tailless bats" genuinely lack a tail. Of the remaining four, however, three have tails that are significantly shorter even than that of A. caudifer, and the fourth, the equatorial tailless bat, was only distinguished from A. caudifer in 2006.
The head is relatively long and narrow, and the tongue is long and extensible, reaching up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in). There is a small, narrow, nose-leaf on the upper lip, which is otherwise smooth. Compared with some other bats, the ears are relatively small and widely separated, and lack an antitragus
. As its name implies, the tailed tailless bat does normally have a tail, although this is very short, only 3 millimetre in length, and does not reach beyond the edge of the uropatagium (membrane between the legs), in which it is embedded. Some individuals, however, have no tail at all, and these were once thought to represent a different species.
, southern and north-eastern Brazil
, Colombia
, Ecuador
, French Guiana
, Guyana
, Peru
, Suriname
, Venezula, and the extreme northern tip of Argentina
. It inhabits tropical forests on both sides of the Andes, at elevations up to 1500 metres (4,921.3 ft).
There are no recognised sub-species.
intake for their size, and must spend at least four hours every night feeding.
The exact breeding season of tailed tailless bats is unclear, and may vary across its range. Studies have generally found fertile adults between August and November, during the rainy season, and infertile individuals at other times of the year, although there have been some exceptions. Tailed tailless bats probably only breed once a year, giving birth to a single offspring.
s, vampire bat
s, and others. They are omnivorous
, using their long tongue to lap nectar from flowers, but also eating some small beetle
s, bug
s, and lepidoptera
ns.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of leaf-nosed bat
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...
from 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...
.
Name
The scientific name of this species is variously given as either A. caudifer or A. caudifera, with scientists having argued for both names on the basis of Latin grammarLatin grammar
The grammar of Latin, like that of other ancient Indo-European languages, is highly inflected; consequently, it allows for a large degree of flexibility in choosing word order...
and of the ICZN
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 28 members from 20 countries, mainly practicing zoological taxonomists...
rules on the naming of species. When Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French naturalist who established the principle of "unity of composition". He was a colleague of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and expanded and defended Lamarck's evolutionary theories...
first described the bat in 1818, he used the species name "caudifer", and this is the name currently preferred by such influential sources as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World, now in its 3rd edition, is a standard reference work in zoology giving descriptions and bibliographic data for the known species of mammals.An updated Third Edition of Mammal Species of the World was published late in 2005:...
.
The common name of the bat is typically given as the "tailed tailless bat". This is because the species belongs to the genus Anoura
Anoura
Anoura is a genus of leaf-nosed bats from Central and South America.-Species:*Anoura aequatoris*Cadena's Tailless Bat, Anoura cadenai*Anoura canishina*Tailed Tailless Bat, Anoura caudifer*Handley's Tailless Bat, Anoura cultrata...
, commonly called the "tailless bats", yet it itself possesses a tail. However, the name is arguably somewhat misleading, since only three of the other seven species of "tailless bats" genuinely lack a tail. Of the remaining four, however, three have tails that are significantly shorter even than that of A. caudifer, and the fourth, the equatorial tailless bat, was only distinguished from A. caudifer in 2006.
Description
The tailed tailless bat is one of the smaller bat species, with a total head and body length of 4.7 to 7 cm (1.9 to 2.8 ), and weighing just 8.5 to 13 g (0.299828677893452 to 0.458561507366456 ). It has silky, dark-brown hair covering the body and parts of the wings and upper arms. Some individuals have paler, often reddish, patches on the upper back, and extending onto the back of the neck and head. The hairless parts of the wing membranes are dark brown or black in color.The head is relatively long and narrow, and the tongue is long and extensible, reaching up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in). There is a small, narrow, nose-leaf on the upper lip, which is otherwise smooth. Compared with some other bats, the ears are relatively small and widely separated, and lack an antitragus
Antitragus
The antitragus is a feature of mammalian ear anatomy. In humans, it is a small tubercle that points anteriorly, but it may be much larger in some other species, most notably bats. It is separated from the tragus by the intertragic notch.-External links:...
. As its name implies, the tailed tailless bat does normally have a tail, although this is very short, only 3 millimetre in length, and does not reach beyond the edge of the uropatagium (membrane between the legs), in which it is embedded. Some individuals, however, have no tail at all, and these were once thought to represent a different species.
Distribution
The tailed tailless bat is found in BoliviaBolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, southern and north-eastern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
, Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, Venezula, and the extreme northern tip of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It inhabits tropical forests on both sides of the Andes, at elevations up to 1500 metres (4,921.3 ft).
There are no recognised sub-species.
Biology
Tailed tailless bats have an unusually high metabolic rate, having been measured at 28 ml O2/h. Since they are able to maintain their body temperatures even in relatively cool weather, they require a high calorificFood energy
Food energy is the amount of energy obtained from food that is available through cellular respiration.Food energy is expressed in food calories or kilojoules...
intake for their size, and must spend at least four hours every night feeding.
The exact breeding season of tailed tailless bats is unclear, and may vary across its range. Studies have generally found fertile adults between August and November, during the rainy season, and infertile individuals at other times of the year, although there have been some exceptions. Tailed tailless bats probably only breed once a year, giving birth to a single offspring.
Behaviour
The tailed tailless bat is nocturnal, spending the day roosting in caves, tree hollows, and some man-made structures. Colonies can up to a hundred individuals, although more typically they range from just five to fifteen individuals. As with most cave-dwelling bats, it typically shares its larger roosts with other species, including other species of tailless bat, as well as common big-eared batCommon Big-eared Bat
The Common Big-eared Bat, Micronycteris microtis, is a bat species from South and Central America.It is a neotropical leaf-nosed bat ....
s, vampire bat
Vampire bat
Vampire bats are bats whose food source is blood, a dietary trait called hematophagy. There are three bat species that feed solely on blood: the Common Vampire Bat , the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat , and the White-winged Vampire Bat .All three species are native to the Americas, ranging from Mexico to...
s, and others. They are omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
, using their long tongue to lap nectar from flowers, but also eating some small beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s, bug
Hemiptera
Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others...
s, and lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
ns.