Bulldog bat

The bat family Noctilionidae, commonly known as bulldog bats or fishing bats, is represented by two extant species, the greater and the lesser bulldog bats,[1] as well as at least one fossil species, Noctilio lacrimaelunaris, from the Miocene of Argentina. [2] The naked bulldog bat (Cheiromeles torquatus) does not belong to this family, but to the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. They are found near water, from Mexico to Argentina and also in the Caribbean islands. In these areas they can be found roosting in groups within hollow trees, caves, man made homes, or other openings with enough space.[3][4] While the two species exhibit different social and foraging behaviors both tend to return to a main roosting spot while also visiting other alternative roosting spots. [3][4]

Not to be confused with fish-eating bat.

Bulldog bats
Temporal range: Miocene to Recent
Greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Suborder: Yangochiroptera
Superfamily: Noctilionoidea
Family: Noctilionidae
Gray, 1821
Genus: Noctilio
Linnaeus, 1766
Species

N. leporinus
N. albiventris
†N. lacrimaelunaris

The bulldog bats have orange to brown fur, and range in head-body length from 7 to 14 cm. They have relatively long legs, large feet (exceptionally so in the case of the greater bulldog bat), and strong claws. Their wings are long and narrow and their ears are large and funnel shaped. Unusual among bats, they have cheek-pouches for storing food. They also have full lips divided by a fold of skin giving a 'hare lip' look which together with the cheek pouches gives them their bulldog-like appearance. The species of lesser bulldog bats are insectivorous, and while the greater bulldog bats also eat insects, their chief food is fish.[5] They use their echolocation to pinpoint the ripples they make on the surfaces of water.[6]

The greater bulldog bat trawls the water with its long, curved talons approximately 2–3 cm below the surface. It makes sweeps of between 30 cm and 3 m before ascending and turning to make a return sweep. In a single night, the bat may catch 20-30 small fish in this way.[7]

References
  1. Simmons, Nancy B. (2005). "Chiroptera". In Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 312–529. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  2. Naish, Darren. "Fossil Bat Stories, Part 3: Bulldog Bats".
  3. Brooke, Anne P. (1997). "Social Organization and Foraging Behaviour of the Fishing Bat, Noctilio leporinus (Chiroptera:Noctilionidae)". Ethology. 103 (5): 421–436. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1997.tb00157.x. ISSN 1439-0310.
  4. Wohlgenant, T.; Pedersen, S.; Adkins, B.; Syme, D. M.; Pearl, D.; Merriman, C. B.; Long, J.; Dunning, D. C.; Audet, D. (1993-08-20). "Activity Patterns and Roost Selection by Noctilio albiventris (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae) in Costa Rica". Journal of Mammalogy. 74 (3): 607–613. doi:10.2307/1382280. ISSN 0022-2372. JSTOR 1382280.
  5. McDonald D. ed 2010 The Encyclopedia of Mammals Oxford University Press ISBN 978-0-19-956799-7 p466
  6. Macdonald, D., ed. (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 805. ISBN 978-0-87196-871-5.
  7. Piper, Ross (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press.
    • Media related to Noctilio at Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related to Noctilio at Wikispecies
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